Russia could be one step closer to returning to FIFA competition after football’s governing body confirmed that all 211 member associations have been invited to the inaugural FIFA Under-15 World Cup and Festival in Azerbaijan later this year. The move is the clearest sign yet that FIFA is starting to reintegrate Russian teams after the country was excluded for more than four years following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.While Russia’s senior men’s and women’s national teams remain suspended from FIFA and UEFA competitions, FIFA president Gianni Infantino also said the governing body was prepared to reconsider the wider ban, arguing that the ongoing quarantine failed to achieve its intended goals.
Why Russia is banned from international football competitions
FIFA and UEFA jointly suspended all Russian national and club teams from official competition in February 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.The decision immediately excludes Russia from the 2022 FIFA World Cup play-offs and has since banned the country from participating in all major high-level international competitions, including Euro 2024, the UEFA Nations League and the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers currently taking place in the United States, Canada and Mexico.The suspensions are not limited to senior teams either, with Russia’s youth and women’s teams missing from FIFA and UEFA competitions. Russian clubs have also been excluded from the continental championship.Despite these sanctions, Russia’s FIFA membership itself was never suspended, meaning the country remained one of FIFA’s 211 member associations during the ban.Over the past four years, Russia has continued to play international friendly matches, mainly against countries outside Europe during the recent international window, including Trinidad and Tobago and Burkina Faso.
FIFA invites all member associations to participate in new U-15 Championship
The first major step in Russia’s return could come in October, when FIFA hosts its first U-15 World Cup and festival in Azerbaijan from 22 to 31 October.When announcing the contest, FIFA confirms Every member association has been invited.“The first edition will be open to men’s teams from all FIFA member associations and the second edition in 2027 will be open to women’s teams only,” FIFA said.“From 2028, all member associations will be invited to participate in two separate competitions with their men’s and women’s U-15 teams.”Although FIFA did not explicitly name Russia in the announcement, reports from Reuters, Deutsche Presse-Agentur and other media showed that both Russia and Belarus were included among the invited participants.If confirmed, it would mark the first time a Russian team has participated in a FIFA-organized tournament since 2022.The move follows FIFA’s gradual attempts to reintegrate youth football. The governing body has previously lifted suspensions for Russia’s under-17 men’s and women’s teams, although the teams remain absent from UEFA and FIFA youth competitions after several European football federations, including Ukraine and England, continued to boycott matches involving Russian teams.
Infantino wants Russia to return to international football
Earlier this year, FIFA president Gianni Infantino publicly admitted that the organization was prepared to review the decision to ban Russia.“We have to do this because this ban achieves nothing, it only creates more frustration and hatred,” Infantino said.“It will help to allow girls and boys from Russia to play football in other parts of Europe.”His comments are the strongest sign yet that FIFA is exploring ways to gradually resume Russia’s involvement, starting with youth football before addressing the future of the senior national team.
Russia welcomes latest FIFA decision
Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev welcomed FIFA’s invitation to the under-15 tournament, saying it was an important breakthrough after more than four years on the sidelines.“We welcome FIFA’s decision to allow the Russian national team to participate in the World Cup and the FIFA U-15 Football Festival to be held in Azerbaijan in October 2026,” he wrote on social media.“This is an important step towards returning the Russian team to international sport.”For Russia, the invitation is the country’s return to the FIFA tournament for the first time since hosting the senior men’s World Cup in 2018.
Premium returns remain uncertain
Despite the development, the Russian senior national team has been suspended indefinitely from FIFA and UEFA competitions.No timetable has been announced for lifting those sanctions, and Russia remains excluded from official senior international football while the war in Ukraine continues.Therefore, the invitation to Azerbaijan represents a limited return of youth football, rather than a full resumption.
