Russia planning World Cup for unqualified nations: Report

Russia have been banned from participating in FIFA competitions since 2022.

Russia is embarking on an unexpected ‘alternate World Cup’ project that has drawn interest from all over the world. It presents a fresh perspective on international soccer politics. An idea to hold a new World Cup for national teams that did not make it to the 2026 FIFA competition has been developed by the Russian Football Union.

The planning behind this proposal demonstrates that Russia is serious about making this competition a reality, even if it has not yet become an official event with an approved roster of teams and a confirmed timetable. This plan has been extensively published by numerous international sports outlets.

The project’s core is easy to comprehend. In the summer, when the official 2026 World Cup will be held in the United States, Russia plan to host a sizable international soccer competition. They are still prohibited from participating in FIFA and UEFA events, as well as World Cup qualification games.

Which nations could be invited?

According to the Russian Football Union, nations that were not selected for the 2026 World Cup will be drawn to this new competition. According to reports, in addition to Russia itself, Nigeria, Cameroon, China, Greece, Serbia, Chile, Peru, and Venezuela may be invited.

Despite missing the official World Cup, these countries might be interested in the competition. Why? It would provide them with international exposure and enable their players to gain experience on a global platform.

They are still up to date and prepared for big events. Russia is also thinking about employing four of the stadiums that hosted games during the 2018 World Cup.

The plan is real, but it is still in its early stages of development. FIFA and UEFA have not made an official announcement. Moreover, the nations that have been identified as potential participants have not given their final approval.

This indicates that the project is actual yet still being planned. Although it is a sincere endeavour, the competition’s final form is still in its early stages.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram.