FIFA has announced the creation of a new tournament for young footballers under 15 years old, which will provide an opportunity for Russia to partially return to international competitions. This festival, known as FIFA U-15, is scheduled for 2026 for youth teams and for 2027 for girls' teams, and will be available to all 211 member organizations.
Recall that in 2022, Russian national teams and clubs were suspended from participating in FIFA and UEFA tournaments due to the conflict in Ukraine. Russia was unable to participate in the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024, but retains its membership in both organizations.
Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, expressed support for the participation of young athletes from Russia and Belarus in international competitions under their flags and with national anthems. He noted that the political situation should not deprive them of the opportunity to compete.
However, experts express skepticism regarding the actual realization of Russia's return to international football. There are a number of issues, such as the refusal of some countries to play matches against Russian teams and potential difficulties in obtaining visas.
Thus, FIFA's initiative for the U-15 tournament may become the first step towards the gradual restoration of Russia's position in the international football arena.
