The Russian national team was not included in the list of participants in the draw for the World Cup-2026 on soccer

The Russian national soccer team was not among the participants of the five baskets for the draw for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) zone. Their approved composition was published by the International Football Federation (FIFA) on its website on November 28.

The draw ceremony itself will be held on December 13 in Zurich, Switzerland, Sport-Express adds .

It will determine 12 groups of four or five teams each. Sixteen teams from Europe will qualify for the final part of the World Cup, which will be held in stadiums in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

In June this year, Dmitry Svischev, chairman of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports, said that the Russian national team will still have a chance to return to international soccer tournaments. He pointed out that Russian players continue to play in European clubs.

On February 28, 2022 FIFA and UEFA suspended national teams and clubs from the Russian Federation from participation in all competitions under the auspices of the organizations. As assured in the organizations, soccer will become "a vector of unity and peace between nations" in case the situation around Ukraine improves.

After, in September 2023, FIFA President Gianni Infantino allowed the possibility of participation of the Russian national soccer team in the World Cup-2026. When asked on the margins of the UN General Assembly, he replied: "It will be seen".