Gianni Infantino is doing Vladimir Putin's PR for him

Russia returns to international competition after four-year suspension following Ukraine invasion, with U-15 team entering World Cup in Azerbaijan.

Russia will compete in international football for the first time since FIFA suspended the country weeks after invading Ukraine in February 2022. The Russian Football Union has secured matches in the 2026-27 international window, including a senior friendly against Nigeria in Nizhny Novgorod. More significantly, Russia's under-15 team has been entered in the U-15 World Cup in Azerbaijan later this month, competing alongside England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and other nations. Germany, the Netherlands and Iceland have withdrawn from the tournament in protest.