Russia to submit long-shot bids to host European soccer championship in 2028 or 2032
"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.
-
The UK’s supposed Christian revivalThe Explainer Research has shown that claims of increased church attendance, particularly among young people, ‘may be misleading’
-
How long can Keir Starmer last as Labour leader?Today's Big Question Pathway to a coup ‘still unclear’ even as potential challengers begin manoeuvring into position
-
Child-free train carriages: has push for adults-only spaces gone too far?Talking Point Under-12s ban on premium commuter train carriages in France sparks backlash across the political divide
-
The billionaires’ wealth tax: a catastrophe for California?Talking Point Peter Thiel and Larry Page preparing to change state residency
-
Hegseth moves to demote Sen. Kelly over videospeed read Retired Navy fighter pilot Mark Kelly appeared in a video reminding military service members that they can ‘refuse illegal orders’
-
Trump says US ‘in charge’ of Venezuela after Maduro grabSpeed Read The American president claims the US will ‘run’ Venezuela for an unspecified amount of time, contradicting a statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio
-
Trump considers giving Ukraine a security guaranteeTalking Points Zelenskyy says it is a requirement for peace. Will Putin go along?
-
Vance’s ‘next move will reveal whether the conservative movement can move past Trump’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Bari Weiss’ ‘60 Minutes’ scandal is about more than one reportIN THE SPOTLIGHT By blocking an approved segment on a controversial prison holding US deportees in El Salvador, the editor-in-chief of CBS News has become the main story
-
CBS pulls ‘60 Minutes’ report on Trump deporteesSpeed Read An investigation into the deportations of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador’s notorious prison was scrapped
-
Trump administration posts sliver of Epstein filesSpeed Read Many of the Justice Department documents were heavily redacted, though new photos of both Donald Trump and Bill Clinton emerged
