By HAN News Desk
MASCOW — European media report that Russia is preparing an international football tournament aimed at national teams that did not qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to World Soccer Talk, the Russian Football Union is organizing a series of matches involving 8–12 countries, to be hosted at the same stadiums used during the 2018 World Cup.
Additional sources, including SoccerNet NG, suggest potential participants could include Nigeria, China, Chile, Serbia, Greece, Peru, Cameroon, and Russia itself. The tournament is expected to take place concurrently with the official 2026 World Cup.
Sportaran reports that while the project is primarily sporting, it is also seen as a political statement, signaling that FIFA and UEFA restrictions will not prevent Russia from hosting major events.
Swiss newspaper Blick has emphasized that the tournament is still in the planning stages, with no official confirmation yet.
If realized, this would mark the first major international football event organized by a nation banned from FIFA competitions, highlighting Moscow’s intent to assert its presence in global football despite sanctions and restrictions.
