Russia

LJUBLJANA — Ukraine will pour their heart and soul into ensuring they win their World Cup playoff matches as soldiers repelling the Russian invasion want the team to do everything they can to qualify, midfielder Taras Stepanenko said on Friday.

Ukraine, who last played against Bosnia & Herzegovina in a 2-0 victory in November, faces Scotland in a World Cup playoff semifinal on June 1, with the winner set to face Wales for a place in the finals against the U.S., England and Iran in Qatar later this year.

UEFA has banned Russia from the Women's European Championship in July and from participating in qualifying for next year's World Cup following the country's invasion of Ukraine, European soccer's governing body said on Monday.

Portugal will replace Russia for the July 6-31 tournament in England, having lost to them in the qualifying playoffs. They will join the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland in Group C.

Until recently, Roman Abramovich was living the high life. Owner of the world’s best soccer team (Chelsea won the Champions League in May and Club World Cup in February), the Russian oligarch boasted a personal net worth close to $8 billion. That’s all changed in the weeks since Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, with Abramovich’s assets frozen and Chelsea forcibly put up for sale. Now there are reports saying Abramovich was poisoned while representing Russia in peace talks.

UEFA has received declarations of interest from Britain and Ireland, Russia and Turkey to host the European Championship in 2028, the governing body said on Wednesday.

Russia and Turkey have also declared their interest in hosting Euro 2032, UEFA added, and Italy has also announced its intention to bid for that tournament.

Governing bodies FIFA and UEFA have suspended Russian clubs and national teams from international competition — pending an appeal by the Russian Football Union (RFU) to the Court of Arbitration of Sport — following its invasion of Ukraine.

FIFA has sent medical supplies to the Ukrainian Football Association (UAF) and allocated $1 million to the FIFA Foundation for humanitarian aid in Ukraine, soccer's world governing body said on Saturday.

More than 3.3 million refugees have already fled Ukraine through its western border, with around 2 more million displaced inside the country following Russia's Feb. 24 invasion.

FIFA Foundation helps victims of war in Ukraine

Russia's hopes of competing at the 2022 World Cup were effectively ended after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected a request from the Russian Football Union to freeze FIFA's suspension while their appeal is heard.

CAS said in a statement on Friday that the suspension of all Russian teams and clubs from FIFA's competitions would therefore remain in force.

The decision effectively prevents Russia from taking part in World Cup qualifying playoffs, scheduled later this month, as no CAS hearing has yet been fixed.

LONDON - Ukrainian winger Andriy Yarmolenko and Spanish midfielder Pablo Fornals scored a goal each as West Ham defeated Aston Villa 2-1 at home on Sunday, ending Steven Gerrard's side's run of three consecutive wins in the Premier League.

Yarmolenko had been granted compassionate leave after Russia's invasion of Ukraine last month and then fell ill, missing West Ham's 1-0 Europa League loss in Seville on Thursday.

European soccer champions Chelsea are now effectively controlled by the British government after sanctions were imposed against Russian owner Roman Abramovich on Thursday.

Abramovich, who had been under scrutiny following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, had announced he was selling the Premier League club last week.

FIFA has postponed Ukraine's World Cup qualification playoff match against Scotland on March 24, world football's governing body said in a statement on Tuesday.

The winners of the game at Hampden Park in Glasgow will take on Austria or Wales for a place in November's World Cup finals in Qatar.

Ukraine's Football Association had asked FIFA to postpone the qualifier following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Scottish FA Statement: Scotland Men's National Team v Ukraine postponement.