The FIFA World Cup 2026, the 23rd edition of football's premier global tournament, is set to captivate the world from June 11 to July 19, 2026, marking a historic milestone as the first World Cup co-hosted by three nations: Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Spanning 16 vibrant host cities and iconic stadiums, including Estadio Azteca in Mexico City for the opening match and MetLife Stadium in New York New Jersey for the grand final, this expanded 48-team spectacle features 104 thrilling matches across a revamped format with 12 groups of four, where the top two teams per group plus the eight best third-placed sides advance to a knockout stage beginning with the round of 32.
With just over 100 days until kickoff, preparations are in full swing amid a countdown filled with excitement, though shadowed by geopolitical tensions such as uncertainties surrounding Iran's participation following recent U.S.-Israel military actions. This takes us back to Russia-Ukraine tensions, raising questions about whether the Russians will be able to take part in the footballing major.
Is Russia playing FIFA World Cup 2026?
Russia is not participating in the FIFA World Cup 2026 because the Russian national football team, along with its clubs and other representative sides, has been suspended from all FIFA and UEFA-organized competitions since February 2022.
This suspension was imposed immediately following Russia's invasion and its military aggression in Ukraine, with FIFA and UEFA issuing a joint decision to exclude Russian teams "until further notice" as a sanction against the military aggression. As a result, Russia was barred from entering the European qualification process for the 2026 tournament, conducted under UEFA, preventing any path to qualification.
The ban, upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport despite appeals by the Russian Football Union, also applied to the 2022 World Cup, where Russia was expelled mid-qualifying and has extended to events like Euro 2024.
While FIFA President Gianni Infantino has recently publicly advocated for lifting the ban, arguing it has "achieved nothing" beyond creating "frustration and hatred" and that athletes should not be punished for political decisions, the suspension remains in effect Russia has been limited to unofficial friendlies against non-sanctioned opponents during this period, and there are no indications of a change allowing participation in 2026.
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