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Football

23rd Mar 2022

Russia set to bid to host Euro 2028 or 2032

Callum Boyle

Russia are currently banned by UEFA.

An official from the Russian Football Union has said that Russia will make a bid for either the 2028 or 2032 European Championships.

On Tuesday it was all but confirmed that the United Kingdom and Ireland would host Euro 2028 after UEFA received no rival bids to host the competition.

However, Sergei Anokhin has thrown Russia’s hat in the ring and said they wouldn’t rule out trying to host Euro 2032 instead and rival Italy, who are also interested in staging the tournament that year.

Russia’s suspension means it is unlikely they will host the Euro 2028.

St. Petersburg was one of the host cities for Euro 2020 last summer and was also one of several Russian cities to host the 2018 World Cup.

Given the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, and the number of sanctions imposed against Russia, it is almost unfathomable to imagine they will even be considered, let alone be chosen.

Russia are currently suspended by both UEFA and FIFA following Vladimir Putin’s orders to invade Ukraine last month and a despite preparing to file a lawsuit, are unlikely to have the ban lifted.

This means the country’s international fixtures that were due to take place this week, the World Cup play-off against Poland, were cancelled.

As a result, Russia will not be able to appear at the World Cup in Qatar later this year and will also be prevented from competing in the qualifiers for Euro 2024, which will be held in Germany.

Domestic clubs in Russia have also been affected after Spartak Moscow were kicked out of this year’s Europa League knockout stages, allowing RB Leipzig to progress to the quarter-final.

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