Ukraine’s World Cup playoff semifinal match postponed after Russian invasion

FIFA officially postponed Ukraine’s World Cup playoff semifinal match in the wake of Russia’s invasion into the country, the sport’s governing body announced on Tuesday.

Ukraine was set to play Scotland in a playoff semifinal on March 24, though the country asked FIFA last week to push the match back. Ukraine and Scotland will now play in June. The winner of that match will then take on the winner of Wales and Austria in the final, which will also take place in June. Wales and Austria will still play their semifinals match on March 24 as regularly scheduled.

Nearly all members of the Ukrainian national team have remained in the country since Russia invaded late last month. It’s unclear if they are fighting in the conflict, though the Ukrainian government has required that all men between the ages of 18 and 60 to stay in the country and help.

At least 15 members of the national team also play on club teams inside the country. That league was suspended last month as the conflict with Russia escalated, and the team has not been able to practice or train in any capacity.

It’s unclear when the team will be able to start training again, as Russia is still in Ukraine waging war. Delaying the qualifying match, however, at least gives them a shot to still make it to Qatar.

Russia pulled from World Cup qualifying

The sports world has levied plenty of sanctions against Russia since it invaded Ukraine.

Both FIFA and UEFA have already banned the Russian national team from all international competitions, including the World Cup, and UEFA moved the Champions League final out of Russia. Electronic Arts also took out all Russian teams from the FIFA video game.

As a result, FIFA officially removed Russia from the World Cup qualifying on Tuesday and gave Poland a bye. Poland and Russia were going to play in the Path B semifinals opposite Sweden and the Czech Republic.

Poland will now take on the winner of Sweden and the Czech Republic on March 29.

The World Cup in Qatar is set to start on Nov. 21.