Countries Opposed to Russia's Return to UEFA Tournaments Have Been Named
A number of national soccer associations continue to strongly oppose Russia’s return to competitions under the auspices of UEFA following the International Olympic Committee’s recommendation to lift sanctions related to the war.
According to Russian media reports, the following countries oppose the admission of Russian teams: Ukraine, England, France, Germany, Poland, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Baltic states, and Romania.
It is reported that the stance of these soccer associations remains one of the main obstacles to Russian soccer’s return to European tournaments.
Following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, FIFA and UEFA suspended all Russian national teams and clubs from international competitions. As a result, they are missing out on the World Cup, the European Championship, the Champions League, the Europa League, the Conference League, and other tournaments.
Yesterday, the first semifinalist was determined at the World Cup. The French national team confidently defeated Morocco 2–0 and became the first team to secure a spot among the tournament’s top four.
Meanwhile, FIFA has decided to sell fans pieces of turf from the stadium that will host the 2026 World Cup final. Prices will start at $450, and the most expensive collector’s sets will cost up to $3,000.
