Ukraine calls for boycott of youth football World Cup over Russian participation

Ukraine's Ministry of Youth and Sport has called on the international sporting community not to make any concessions to Russia and has protested against the participation of the Russian youth football team in the newly established U-15 World Cup.

Source: Ministry of Youth and Sport, in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda

Details: The Ministry of Sport said that the Russian team's participation in the tournament under the Russian flag amounts to "legitimising a terrorist state". The ministry stressed that the competition's festival format and unofficial status do not change the substance of the situation, which is that Russians are being given the opportunity to use an international football platform and display state symbols.

The inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival will take place in Baku from 22 to 31 October 2026. FIFA notes that the tournament is open to all 211 of the organisation's member associations. Over 3,000 players, coaches and officials are expected to take part, with matches played in an eight-a-side format.

Quote from the ministry: "While Russian youth teams are being allowed into international football festivals, the aggressor state is committing crimes against Ukrainian children."

More details: The ministry also referred to confirmed cases of the deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia. The Bring Kids Back UA initiative has reported that more than 20,000 such cases have been recorded.

Quote from the ministry: "Before the world even considers Russia's return to international sport, it must demand the main thing – the return home of all abducted Ukrainian children and the establishment of a just peace."

More details: The ministry thanked Latvia, Iceland and Germany, which have announced that they will be withdrawing from the festival, and called on other national federations to follow suit.

Background: The Ministry of Sport also said that FIFA's 2022 decision to suspend Russian teams from international competitions should, in Ukraine's view, apply at all levels, and no exceptions should be made for unofficial tournaments.

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