Next month, Ukraine will compete in the playoffs for the final European World Cup spots. Russia is no longer willing to do so.
FIFA, the world soccer’s governing body, has voted to impose an indefinite ban on Russia and its teams, excluding them from qualifying for the 2022 World Cup only weeks before they were supposed to compete for one of Europe’s final spots in the tournament.
They are banned from both the 2022 World Cup and Women’s Euro 2022.
“Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine”, read the official statement as reported by Fabrizio Romano.
Poland, Sweden, and the Czech Republic were the first to put pressure on Russia to be barred since they faced World Cup playoff games against Russia. Other countries and leaders, notably the French, English, and American federations, swiftly stated that they would not play against Russia.
