Football Leaders Discuss Russia’s Potential Return

FIFA boss Gianni Infantino hopes Russia can play football again soon. He said it would mean the war in Ukraine is over.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Russian teams can’t play in FIFA and UEFA games.

Infantino spoke in Belgrade at a UEFA meeting. He wants Russia back in football because it would mean peace.

He said football should bring people together. It shouldn’t divide them.

UEFA’s Aleksander Ceferin agreed with Infantino.

Ceferin said Russia will play again when the war ends.

Ceferin doesn’t like FIFA’s idea to add more teams to the 2030 World Cup. The idea is to have 64 teams for the 100th anniversary.

Morocco, Spain, and Portugal will host the games. Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay will host three games too. The first World Cup was in Uruguay in 1930.

Ignacio Alonso from Uruguay suggested the change. Ceferin was shocked by this idea.

Ceferin thinks it’s bad for the World Cup and the qualifiers.

He doesn’t support it and doesn’t know where it came from.

The World Cup is already growing from 32 to 48 teams for the next one in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.

Ceferin is okay with this year’s Club World Cup. Some people think it’s too much for players.

Ceferin said the Club World Cup is happening. European clubs wanted it. He doesn’t think it’s like their competition. Some players will just play more games.

The Club World Cup is from June 14 to July 13 in the U.S.