FIFA has announced the inaugural U-15 World Cup and Festival, set to be held in Azerbaijan in October 2024, which is open to all FIFA member associations. This could mark the first time a Russian team participates in a FIFA event since the country's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

FIFA initially banned Russia from international competitions in February 2022 but lifted the suspension for U-17 boys' and girls' teams the following year. However, Russian teams have remained absent from U-17 tournaments organized by FIFA and UEFA due to boycotts by several European nations, including Ukraine and England.

According to FIFA's statement on Wednesday, the first edition of the U-15 event will feature only boys' teams, while the second edition in 2027 will be exclusively for girls' teams. Starting in 2028, all member associations will be invited to participate with both boys' and girls' U-15 teams in separate competitions.

The U-15 tournament will kick off on October 22 and conclude nine days later. While Russia's participation has not been confirmed, the open invitation raises the possibility of their return to FIFA events amid ongoing boycotts from Ukraine and other countries.

Source: www.aljazeera.com