U.S. Soccer joined the growing list of federations around the world stating it would not compete against Russia in any competition, with USSF denouncing the nation’s "heinous and inhumane" invasion of Ukraine in a statement Monday.
“The U.S. Soccer Federation stands united with the people of Ukraine and is unequivocal in our denunciation of the heinous and inhumane invasion by Russia,” U.S. Soccer said in a statement. “We will neither tarnish our global game, nor dishonor Ukraine, by taking the same field as Russia, no matter the level of competition or circumstance, until freedom and peace have been restored.”
Monday’s announcement comes after the soccer federations of Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic each announced they will not play Russia in the 2022 World Cup qualifying next month. The four are in one of UEFA's three brackets to determine the region's final three berths at the World Cup.
