Forty-four EU lawmakers are pressing FIFA President Gianni Infantino to prevent Russian athletes from competing in the U-15 World Cup in Azerbaijan, citing Russia's ongoing conflict with Ukraine and the alleged forced displacement of Ukrainian children.
FIFA has invited Russia to its inaugural Under-15 World Cup and Festival in Azerbaijan, marking a potential step towards reintegration after over four years of exclusion following the invasion of Ukraine. While senior teams remain suspended, this invitation to youth competition is seen as a significant development.
FIFA has announced its inaugural U-15 World Cup and Festival in Azerbaijan will be open to all member associations, potentially allowing Russian teams to participate for the first time since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Russian U-17 teams had their suspension lifted previously, but remained absent from tournaments due to boycotts.
