Overview
- FIFA announced on June 25 that its new U-15 World Cup and Festival in Azerbaijan (Oct. 22–31, 2026) is open to all member associations, a move that the federation says clears Russia’s U-15 boys’ and girls’ teams to participate.
- Russia’s sports minister, Mikhail Degtyarev, hailed the decision as a step toward full reinstatement of national teams and clubs and said Moscow is in close contact with FIFA leadership.
- FIFA president Gianni Infantino has publicly pushed to lift youth-level restrictions, arguing that bans hurt young players, and his stance helped shape the U-15 opening.
- UEFA and several European national associations have resisted broader readmission for Russian teams at older age groups and at club level, so senior sides and professional clubs remain barred under the 2022 measures.
- Because Russia’s overall FIFA membership was never suspended, the U-15 clearance uses that technical status to allow limited return and could influence how other sports bodies handle phased readmission of athletes.