FIFA invites Russia to U-15 World Cup amid ongoing suspension

FIFA has announced that all Member Associations, including Russia, will be invited to participate in the upcoming U-15 World Cup and Festival scheduled for October 22-31, 2026, in Azerbaijan. Despite Russia's suspension from international competitions due to its invasion of Ukraine, FIFA aims to include teams in youth tournaments to foster participation. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has advocated for this inclusion, arguing that young athletes should not be punished for political actions. Russia's Minister of Sport, Mikhail Degtyarev, has welcomed the invitation as a significant step toward re-establishing Russia's presence in international sports. This decision follows UEFA's previous plans to invite Russia to a U-17 tournament, which were halted due to opposition from member nations.

• 1:31 PMYahoo Sports — FIFA paves the way for Russia to return to an international competition