Asia won't help: Russia's "only chance" to play at the 2026 FIFA World Cup named

The Russian national team will be able to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup only through the European qualifying tournament. The transition of the aggressor country's association to the Asian Confederation will put an end to the Russian national team's chances of playing in the USA, Mexico and Canada.

This was stated in an interview with Championat.com by the Secretary General of the Russian Football Union (RFU) Maxim Mitrofanov. According to him, the European Football Union (UEFA) is interested in the Russian representatives retaining their membership in the organisation.

"The negotiations are ongoing. There is no deadline. If we talk about the draw, the European draw will take place at the end of 2024. We can go to Asia. We can participate in the Asian Cup. But it is unlikely that we will qualify for the World Cup through Asia. We can play in intra-Asian competitions, but not qualify through them. It happens because we did not leave UEFA in time. Now the only chance to get to the World Cup is to stay in UEFA," Mitrofanov said.

As a reminder, Russian clubs have been suspended from the Champions League, UEFA League and Conference League, and the national team from the qualifying tournament for the 2024 European Championship and the League of Nations.

As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, Russian referee Sergei Karasyov has been called to the UEFA football referees' meeting to be held in Switzerland in September.

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