MEPs are calling on FIFA to bar Russia from the U-15 World Cup
The Kyiv Independent reports on the appeal made by 44 Members of the European Parliament to FIFA.
The authors of the letter called on Gianni Infantino to revoke the decision allowing Russian athletes to take part in the U-15 World Cup.
The MEPs emphasised that Russia is continuing its war against Ukraine, and that Ukrainian children are losing access to schools, sports facilities and a normal life due to Russian attacks.
The letter also mentioned around 20,000 Ukrainian children who, according to the MEPs, have been forcibly removed or separated from their families by Vladimir Putin’s regime. Against this backdrop, they described the participation of Russian teams in FIFA events as unacceptable.
MEPs stated that in Russia, sport is used not only as a competition but also as a tool of state propaganda.
The letter states that the Russian authorities use sport to promote nationalist, anti-Ukrainian and anti-Western views, as well as to justify the war against Ukraine.
Separately, the authors of the appeal warned that the presence of Russian athletes, the Russian flag or state symbols at FIFA events would be an insult to Ukrainian families who have lost children as a result of Russian attacks.
What exactly should FIFA cancel?
This concerns the first U-15 World Cup, which FIFA plans to hold in Azerbaijan in autumn 2026.
FIFA’s official statement notes that the inaugural tournament for youth teams will be open to all the organisation’s member associations. It is precisely this wording that paves the way for Russia’s participation, as it remains a member of FIFA.
FIFA did not mention Russia specifically in its official statement about the tournament. However, international and Ukrainian media have reported that the invitation to all member associations also extends to Russia and Belarus.
What conditions did MEPs set out?
In a letter to Infantino, MEPs called on FIFA to bar Russian footballers from taking part in tournaments until Russia agrees to a ceasefire, peace talks and the return of Ukrainian children.
They also called on FIFA to stand on the side of peace, rather than making concessions to the aggressor country.
European lawmakers believe that the participation of Russian teams could undermine the very principle of a fair tournament, as other countries may refuse to play matches or take part due to Russia’s presence.
What led up to this
At the end of June, FIFA announced that the first U-15 World Cup would take place in Azerbaijan from 22 to 31 October 2026. In 2027, the tournament is planned to be held for girls’ teams, and from 2028 onwards, FIFA intends to organise separate competitions for boys and girls.
On 7 July, the International Olympic Committee temporarily reinstated the membership of the Russian Olympic Committee and stated that international federations were no longer obliged to apply the previous recommendations regarding the neutral status of Russian athletes.
Following this, FIFA stated that it would analyse the IOC’s decision and determine its next steps in consultation with the relevant stakeholders. At the same time, the AP notes that the IOC’s decision is not binding on individual sports federations.
The return of Russian teams to international sport is taking place against the backdrop of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. For Ukraine, the issue of allowing Russians to compete is not merely a sporting one, but also a political and moral one.
Kyiv has repeatedly stated that Russia uses sport as a tool of propaganda, and that the participation of Russian teams in international tournaments creates the impression of normalisation for a state that continues its aggression.
Against this backdrop, the appeal by MEPs to FIFA was an attempt to halt the first visible step towards the return of Russian football via children’s competitions.
Follow us on Telegram.
