GENEVA (AP) — FIFA is set to approve the reintegration of Russian youth teams into under-17 competitions and ease a total international ban on the country amid the war in Ukraine.
FIFA and UEFA moved within days of Russia invading Ukraine in February 2022 to ban the country's national and club teams from international soccer competitions.
Future opponents of Russian national teams, including Poland, Sweden and Switzerland, had already refused to play those games.
With the war showing no signs of ending, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has signaled wanting to restore Russian teams into youth competitions.
Russian teams can only access the FIFA-run Under-17 World Cups by advancing through the UEFA-run qualifying format.
Persons:
Gianni Infantino, Aleksander Ceferin, —, ___
Organizations:
GENEVA, FIFA, FIFA Council, Associated Press, UEFA, Russian, Sport, Russian U17, International Olympic Committee
Locations:
Russian, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland