Russia are set to return to Fifa competition for the first time since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, after being listed on Friday as entrants for next month’s boys’ Under-15 World Cup and Festival in Azerbaijan.
Both club and national sides from Russia were banned from Fifa and Uefa tournaments following the invasion. Although Fifa lifted the prohibition on Russia’s under-17 teams back in 2023, the upcoming event will be the first time a team has actually played.