Trevor Noah: Russia Can Try Rebrand At World Cup But Shouldn't Smile

World Cup  host Russia  began the soccer tournament with a 5-0 victory over Saudi Arabia on Thursday, but no amount of excellence on the field could erase the country’s sinister image under President Vladimir Putin . The leader’s reported meddling in the U.S. elections and domestic anti-gay policy make him an unlikely candidate for redemption, Trevor Noah  said on “The Daily Show.” 

However, the comedy host pointed out that the World Cup gives Russia a chance to score public relations points at a cost.

Noah, pointing to a recent report that Russian train conductors took lessons in how to smile at foreigners, cracked: “I feel like the only thing worse than a non-smiling Russian is a smiling Russian.”

Watch the full clip above.