European football’s governing body is ready to prevent Russian teams from rejoining international competition, despite the recent decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to conditionally end the nation’s exclusion from global sports.
The global football authority has suggested it will reassess its stance after enforcing a prohibition on Russian sides following the comprehensive invasion of Ukraine four years ago. On Tuesday it stated it would “examine the ruling before determining the way forward,” a position that places it on a potential collision course with the European administrative body.
The European organisation has not made an official statement, but insiders from multiple domestic federations have indicated there is no credible scenario where Russian teams are readmitted to continental football and, consequently, the World Cup. Although the latter is a worldwide tournament, the European chapter manages its qualification process. Several prominent western European bodies, including those from England, Germany, and France, remain staunchly against Russia’s reinstatement.
The European body was compelled to scrap plans to allow Russian youth teams back into events three years ago following opposition from at least twelve of its member associations, and it is keen to avoid a similar situation. With its president, Aleksander Ceferin, seeking re-election next year, he is not expected to endanger support from a large portion of his voting base.
The world governing body appears more amenable to Russia’s reintegration. Its president, Gianni Infantino, has signaled he would support the country’s comeback. He maintains a close relationship with Vladimir Putin, having collaborated with him to deliver the 2018 World Cup, and was instrumental in enabling a Russian under-15s boys’ side to participate in a youth World Cup event in Azerbaijan last October.
Infantino told a news broadcaster in February that the organisation would explore avenues for bringing Russian teams back. “This prohibition has proven ineffective, merely breeding further resentment and discord,” he remarked.
Should the global body take the drastic measure of allowing Russia to enter World Cup qualification through a different regional confederation—similar to the arrangement for Israel, which competes in the European zone—this might not resolve the dilemma, as European nations could warn of a boycott if Russia advanced to the tournament.
This issue threatens to deepen the rift between the two most influential entities in football, which were already at odds earlier this week. Tensions flared when the world federation’s disciplinary panel made the extraordinary decision to reverse a player’s suspension ahead of a crucial World Cup knockout match. The European governing body charged its counterpart with crossing “a red line” that compromised the tournament’s integrity, prompting a retaliatory accusation of hypocrisy.
The IOC’s move to end the suspension of Russia’s Olympic committee, which had been effective since October 2023, clears a path for its athletes and teams to take part in the Los Angeles Games in 2028. Only 27 Russian athletes participated across the 2024 Summer Games in Paris and the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games following a review procedure designed to confirm they had not openly backed the war on Ukraine. With that process now abandoned, several hundred Russians could feature at the LA Games.
The IOC has stressed that individual sporting disciplines retain the authority to make their own rulings on Russia’s involvement, and there is no chance of them appearing in the football event in 2028 as the qualification competitions are already in progress. The European football body declined to comment.
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