FIFA President Gianni Infantino is open to Russia’s return. The ban has only “caused frustration and hatred.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has shown openness to lifting the ban against Russia. “We must,” Infantino told British broadcaster Sky when asked if Russia’s return should be considered: “Absolutely – at least in the youth sector. This ban has achieved nothing. It has only caused frustration and hatred.”
He added that “it would help if girls and boys from Russia could play football in other parts of Europe.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino
FIFA and UEFA exclude Russia
Shortly after Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine in 2022, FIFA and UEFA banned Russian participants from their ongoing competitions.
Already in April 2025, Infantino had shown openness to Russia’s return – in connection with an end to the war. “As peace talks in Ukraine continue, I hope we can soon move to the next phase and bring Russia back into the football world, because that would mean everything is resolved,” Infantino had said at the UEFA Congress in Belgrade.
In 2023, FIFA and UEFA had already readmitted Russian U17 teams to international competitions, but later discarded the plans after several European associations – including not the DFB – announced a boycott.
In December 2025, the FIFA Council confirmed that Russian teams are allowed to participate in U15 tournaments. The world football association followed the recommendation of the IOC, which had shortly before advocated for an “unrestricted” return of Russians to international youth competitions.