Feb 2, 2026, 8:10 p.mFeb 2, 2026, 8:10 p.m
The world looked different then: Gianni Infantino and Vladimir Putin before the World Cup in Russia. (Archive image, 2017)Image: EPA/SPUTNIK POOL
Swiss FIFA President Gianni Infantino wants to allow Russian teams to take part in international competitions again, as he explains in an interview with the British broadcaster Sky. Asked whether FIFA should lift its ban, he replied: “Oh, definitely. We have to. Yes…at least at the youth level. This ban has achieved nothing. It just led to more frustration and hatred.”
FIFA and UEFA had banned Russian teams from all international competitions. Formally, however, this did not happen as a reaction to the military attack on Ukraine, but rather because of the threat to the “integrity of the competition,” as it is called in football political language.
Russia’s men’s national team continues to play international matches outside of major tournaments and is ranked 36th in the FIFA world rankings. The women are in 28th place. (sda/dpa)