FIFA removes Russia from playoff due to conflict with Ukraine

After the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine, FIFA has made tough decisions regarding the European playoffs for the Qatar 2022 World Cup. First, the playoff between Scotland vs. Ukraine is postponed for the month of June. On the other hand, Poland (it was their turn to play against Russia) goes directly to the final of Key 2 of the playoffs and will face the winner of Sweden vs. Czech Republic.

The highest football body recalled that last Wednesday, March 3, the Ukrainian Football Association (UAF) sent a letter requesting that its playoff matches for the World Cup be postponed, due to the impossibility of organizing the trips and training of his selection for the invasion of the country by Russia.

The Russian team had agreed to the playoffs after finishing second in Group H behind Croatia. However, FIFA decided to exclude her and she will not be able to contest the quota for the World Cup event that will be played at the end of this year.

The decision of FIFA towards Qatar 2022

Regarding itinerary A of the European play-offs, after a meeting with UEFA and the four federations involved, they agreed that “the match between Scotland and Ukraine, originally scheduled for March 24, will be postponed to June and, consequently, the match between the winners of the clash between Scotland and Ukraine and those of the clash between Wales and Austria is also postponed to that same month”, beginning.

It was also agreed that the playoff between Wales and Austria will be played on March 24. Furthermore, “in line with the decision that was taken jointly with the UEFA Executive Committee on February 28 to ban the participation of all Russian teams in FIFA and UEFA competitions until further notice”, FIFA “has decided that Poland will automatically go to the final of itinerary B, which on March 29 will face the winner of the match between Sweden and the Czech Republic”.