FIFA might let the banned country join international tournaments again this year.
Russia is reportedly set to take part in an international football tournament this October, more than four years after being banned by FIFA due to the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Earlier this year, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said they would seriously think about lifting the ban on Russia, even though the conflict in Ukraine is still ongoing. Infantino explained, “We have to, because this ban hasn’t worked—it’s only caused more frustration and anger. Letting boys and girls from Russia play football in other parts of Europe would help.”
After hosting the 2018 World Cup, Russia was banned from the 2022 and 2026 World Cups following the invasion. This ban also included youth and women’s teams, keeping Russia out of under-17 tournaments run by FIFA and UEFA. But it looks like that might change soon.
According to a report from DPA International, Russia will be allowed back in a football tournament this October when FIFA holds its first ever under-15 World Cup and Festival. FIFA announced on Wednesday that all 211 member countries are invited to this new event, which will take place from October 22 to 31 in Azerbaijan.
FIFA said, “The first edition will be for boys’ teams from all member associations. The next one in 2027 will be for girls’ teams only. Starting in 2028, all member countries can send both their boys’ and girls’ U-15 teams to separate competitions.”
The report mentioned that Russia and Belarus are included on the list of participants. Reuters also shared that a Russian team ‘may be allowed’ to join a FIFA event for the first time since the 2022 invasion, with the under-15 World Cup and Festival being the likely occasion.
In the past four years, Russia mostly played friendlies against countries outside Europe. Recently, they played matches against Trinidad and Tobago and Burkina Faso.
In other news, FIFA president Infantino is also trying to organize a symbolic opening match between Israel and Palestine as a gesture of peace. Earlier this year at the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, he tried to get the Palestinian Football Association president and Israel’s FA vice-president to shake hands, but they declined.
Speaking to Reuters, the Palestinian FA vice-president said she couldn’t shake hands because she felt it would support something she strongly opposes. Infantino, however, remains hopeful and wants football to bring hope and unity, especially through the upcoming under-15 tournament where all children from 211 countries will be invited to play together.
SPORTbible has reached out to FIFA for their comments on these developments.