Ukraine has called for a boycott of the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival 2026, which will be held in Azerbaijan in October, in protest against Russia's participation.
As reported by İdman.Biz, Ukraine's Minister of Youth and Sports Matvii Bidnyi made the statement following confirmation of Russia's participation in the inaugural tournament.
Bidnyi also called on other national football associations to withdraw from the competition. The Ukrainian minister said he considers it unacceptable for Russia's U-15 national team to participate with its official state symbols.
He thanked Iceland and Germany for declining to participate in the tournament and stressed Ukraine's position that the restrictions imposed on Russian football following the start of the war in 2022 should remain in force at all levels.
FIFA has confirmed that 191 member associations will take part in the inaugural U-15 World Cup & Festival in Azerbaijan. The competition will be played in an 8v8 format, with the majority of matches taking place at the Hovsan Competition Complex in Baku.
Russia have been drawn in Group AE alongside Turkiye, Afghanistan, Djibouti, Sierra Leone and Sudan.
The tournament will mark Russia's first participation in a FIFA-organised competition since the country's national teams and clubs were suspended from international competitions in 2022 following the start of the war in Ukraine.
