Following the invasion of Ukraine, Poland has announced that they will not play their World Cup play-off match against Russia next month.
Following the invasion, UEFA docked Russia one match, but declined to pull them out of World Cup qualifying. As a result, Russia remains in Path B of the European play-offs, alongside Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Poland, with the latter set to face the former on March 24 in Moscow.
If Russia defeats Poland, they will face the winner of the Sweden-Czech Republic match in a one-off final for a spot in the Qatar showpiece. Polish FA president Cezary Kulesza, on the other hand, has tweeted that his team will not be competing in the first place.
‘This is the only sensible option. We’re in talks with the federations of Sweden and the Czech Republic to present a united front before FIFA.’
The news comes just one day after the three federations of Poland, Sweden, and the Czech Republic issued a unified statement requesting clarity on the situation in Ukraine, as well as rapid offers of “alternative options.”
‘In light of the current alarming developments in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, including the security situation, the Football Associations of Poland, Sweden, and the Czech Republic express their firm position that the playoff matches to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, scheduled for March 24 and 29, 2002, should not be played on Russian Federation territory,’ according to a statement.