Russia is making a partial return to international youth soccer after FIFA includes the country in the draw for the boys’ Under-15 World Cup festival. FIFA announced the draw on Friday, following Russia’s prior invitation to the competition.
Russia has been barred from FIFA and UEFA competitions since the full military invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. However, Russia received an invitation last December to the Under-15 tournament—along with all 211 FIFA member federations—as FIFA took an initial step to ease its ban.
In the draw, Russia is placed in a group for the inaugural tournament in Azerbaijan next month. The opponents listed for Russia include Turkey, Afghanistan, Djibouti, Sierra Leone and Sudan. Different outlets focus on the event’s significance and the broader implications for Russia’s broader participation in FIFA-linked competitions, but all report the same group assignment for Russia in the Under-15 tournament draw.
