Russia to submit long-shot bids to host European soccer championship in 2028 or 2032
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
"You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take" might be a cliché, but the Russian Football Union certainly seems to believe it.
The executive committee of the RFU announced Wednesday that it plans to submit bids to the Union of European Football Associations for Russia to host the men's European Championship in either 2028 or 2032, The Guardian and ESPN report.
This decision comes amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, which has drawn widespread condemnation, including from international sports leagues. ESPN reported last month that Russia had been kicked out of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar by FIFA and that the UEFA had suspended all Russian teams and clubs. Russia was set to host the UEFA finals in St. Petersburg, but the matches were moved to Paris after Russia invaded Ukraine.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
One Twitter user imagined the conversation at RFU headquarters that led to the decision to submit the bid despite the UEFA ban and Russia's pariah status:
"Do you think we should still send in this PowerPoint to host Euro 2028, Vlad? With the war and everything?" one imaginary Russian sports official said.
"Boris, the worst they can say is no," the other replied.
According to The Guardian, the EUFA warned Russia that if it follows through in its declared intention to submit a bid, Russian teams could face further sanctions.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The British Isles are set to host the championship in 2028, while Turkey and Italy are vying to host in 2032.
Grayson Quay was the weekend editor at TheWeek.com. His writing has also been published in National Review, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Modern Age, The American Conservative, The Spectator World, and other outlets. Grayson earned his M.A. from Georgetown University in 2019.
-
Political cartoons for February 11Cartoons Wednesday's political cartoons include erasing Epstein, the national debt, and disease on demand
-
The Week contest: Lubricant larcenyPuzzles and Quizzes
-
Can the UK take any more rain?Today’s Big Question An Atlantic jet stream is ‘stuck’ over British skies, leading to ‘biblical’ downpours and more than 40 consecutive days of rain in some areas
-
Judge rejects California’s ICE mask ban, OKs ID lawSpeed Read Federal law enforcement agents can wear masks but must display clear identification
-
Lawmakers say Epstein files implicate 6 more menSpeed Read The Trump department apparently blacked out the names of several people who should have been identified
-
Japan’s Takaichi cements power with snap election winSpeed Read President Donald Trump congratulated the conservative prime minister
-
Trump sues IRS for $10B over tax record leaksSpeed Read The president is claiming ‘reputational and financial harm’ from leaks of his tax information between 2018 and 2020
-
Trump, Senate Democrats reach DHS funding dealSpeed Read The deal will fund most of the government through September and the Department of Homeland Security for two weeks
-
Fed holds rates steady, bucking Trump pressureSpeed Read The Federal Reserve voted to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged
-
Judge slams ICE violations amid growing backlashSpeed Read ‘ICE is not a law unto itself,’ said a federal judge after the agency violated at least 96 court orders
-
Rep. Ilhan Omar attacked with unknown liquidSpeed Read This ‘small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work’
