Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Football World Cup, UEFA, FIFA
Ryan Smart
UEFA and FIFA have extended Russia's worldwide ban from football ahead of the draw for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, it has been reported.
The Russian Football Union (RFU) has banned from both FIFA and UEFA competitions since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
That means neither the men's nor women's teams can play in the World Cup or European Championships. Domestic club sides also cannot play in UEFA competitions.
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Similar restrictions have been applied in other sports, with some sports allowing individual competitors to compete under a neutral flag or, in the case of the Olympics, under the Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) banner.
Now, according to Russian outlet MatchTV, FIFA and UEFA have decided to uphold Russia's ban from worldwide competitions through to the 2026 World Cup.
That means they will not be able to enter the qualifying process, with one group containing one fewer team as a result.
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In 2022, Russia reached the play-offs for World Cup qualifying and were due to take on Poland in March.
However, the tie was cancelled after Russia's ban and the Poles earned a bye to the next round.
UEFA distributed a circular on November 11 which stated 192 group stage matches would take place in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, effectively guaranteeing their exclusion from the tournament.
All the other 54 UEFA-affiliated nations have entered the draw. Teams who have qualified for the Nations League play-offs will enter into pot one but due to their participation in that competition, will not compete in qualifiers until September.
With the 2026 World Cup set to feature 36 teams, an increase on the 32 teams that qualified for Qatar, there are changes to how the qualifying system works.
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A total of 12 UEFA teams will qualify as either group winners or through the play-offs.
Teams will be drawn into 12 groups of four or five teams on December 13, though the groups of four will not commence their matches until September.