Football: Poland will not play World Cup 2022 qualifier against Russia after Ukraine invasion

This comes after recent events regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine. PHOTO: REUTERS

LONDON (REUTERS) - Poland will not play their 2022 World Cup qualifying football match against Russia next month because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the president of Poland's Football Association, Cezary Kulesza, said on Saturday (Feb 26).

Kulesza said the association was in talks with its Swedish and Czech counterparts regarding playoff matches set for March to fill a slot for the World Cup.

"In light of the escalation of the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine, the Polish national team is not going to play a match against Russian Republic," Kulesza said on Twitter. "This is the only right decision. We are in talks with Swedish and Czech association to present a common position to Fifa."

Russia is due to host Poland in the semi-finals of its strand of the World Cup playoffs on March 24 and, if its team advances, is scheduled to host either Sweden or the Czech Republic on March 29 in the Path B final.

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