Russia is set for a comeback as FIFA announced a huge move to lift its international football ban

FILE – FIFA President Gianni Infantino watches an international friendly soccer match between Iran and Costa Rica in Antalya, southern Turkey, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Riza Ozel, File) Russia could be closing in on a return to FIFA competitions 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 represents the clearest sign yet that FIFA is beginning to reintegrate Russian teams after more than four years of exclusion following the country’s 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 has also indicated that the governing body is prepared to reconsider the wider ban, arguing that the continued isolation has failed to achieve its intended goals.

Why was Russia banned from international football

FIFA and UEFA jointly suspended all Russian national and club teams from official competitions in February 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.The decision immediately eliminated Russia from the 2022 FIFA World Cup play-offs and has since kept the country out of all major senior international competitions, including UEFA Euro 2024, the UEFA Nations League and qualification for the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.The suspension extended beyond the senior teams, with Russia’s youth and women’s teams disappearing from FIFA and UEFA competitions. Russian clubs were also banned from continental tournaments.Despite these sanctions, Russia’s membership of FIFA itself was never suspended, meaning that the country remained one of FIFA’s 211 member associations throughout the ban.Over the past four years, Russia has continued to play international friendlies, primarily against nations outside of Europe, including Trinidad and Tobago and Burkina Faso during the last international window.

FIFA invites all member associations to a new under-15 tournament

The first major step towards Russia’s return could come in October, when FIFA hosts its inaugural Under-15 World Cup and festival in Azerbaijan between October 22 and October 31.When announcing the competition, FIFA confirmed that every member association was invited.“The first year will be open to boys’ teams from all FIFA member associations, the second installment in 2027 will feature only girls’ teams,” FIFA said.“From 2028, all member associations will be invited to participate with their boys’ and girls’ U-15 teams in two separate competitions.”Although FIFA did not specifically single out Russia in its announcement, reports from Reuters, DPA International and other media outlets indicate that both Russia and Belarus are among the invited participants.If confirmed, it would mark the first time since 2022 that a Russian team would participate in a tournament organized by FIFA.The move follows successive attempts by FIFA to reintroduce youth football. The governing body had previously lifted suspensions involving Russian under-17 boys and girls, although the sides remained absent from UEFA and FIFA youth competitions after several European football associations, including Ukraine and England, continued to boycott matches of Russian teams.

Infantino wants Russia back in international football

Earlier this year, FIFA president Gianni Infantino openly admitted that the organization was ready to review Russia’s suspension.“We have to because this ban has achieved nothing, it has only created more frustration and hatred,” Infantino said.“It would help if girls and boys from Russia could play football matches in other parts of Europe.”His comments represented the strongest indication yet that FIFA is exploring ways to gradually restore Russia’s participation, starting with youth football, before addressing the future of the senior national teams.

Russia welcomes latest FIFA decision

Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev has welcomed FIFA’s invitation to the under-15 tournament, calling it 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 FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival to be held in Azerbaijan in October 2026,” he wrote on social media.“This is an important step towards the return of Russian teams to international sports.”For Russia, the invitation marks the first trip back to a FIFA event since hosting the 2018 Senior World Cup.

The return of the elderly remains uncertain

Despite the development, Russia’s senior national teams remain indefinitely suspended from FIFA and UEFA competitions.No timetable has been announced for the lifting of these sanctions, and Russia remains banned from official senior international football while the war in Ukraine continues.The invitation to Azerbaijan therefore represents only a limited return through youth football, rather than a full restoration.