Sweden fears Poland's advantage in World Cup qualifiers after excluding Russia

Sweden today expressed its dissatisfaction with the decision of the International Football Association (FIFA) to qualify Poland to the final of the second track of the European play-off qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, at the expense of Russia, which was excluded from international competitions for its invasion of Ukraine.

Russia was scheduled to host its counterpart Poland on the 24th of this year in the semi-finals, with the qualifier facing the winner of the confrontation of Sweden and Czechia on the 29th of it, but FIFA decided to officially exclude Russia, after it was announced at the end of last February jointly with its European counterpart (Wifa). The suspension of the participation of all Russian teams until further notice, the Russian Federation objected to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The Polish national team will get additional rest days after ensuring its qualification to the final of the track without playing.

Swiss federation president Häkan Sjostrand said he would have preferred if FIFA had identified a second opponent for Poland instead of Russia, "it would be more logical and fair, from a sporting point of view, for Poland to have a new opponent in the semi-finals."

"We understand that it is difficult for FIFA to solve this, but the principle of playing in the same conditions must be applied, that is, to play two competitive matches to reach the World Cup."

Sweden coach Janni Andersson said that FIFA had made the right decision to expel Russia from the World Cup qualifiers, but considered that giving Poland the ticket to qualify for the play-off final was "completely crazy from a sporting point of view."

"We will focus entirely on the match against the Czech Republic. We want to go to the World Cup and we will do everything to achieve that."

The International Federation also decided to postpone the confrontation with Scotland and Ukraine, which was scheduled for the current 24th as well, and to hold it next June.

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