Russian and Ukrainian football teams to play in different groups in 2018

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter said that national teams of Ukraine and Russia would play in different groups at the upcoming World Cup in 2018.

Usually, the FIFA committee makes such decision in cases, where the relations between the participating powers are complicated due to political tensions. As a rule, the teams of Russia and Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan play in different groups.

In light of recent events, it will not be surprising, if Serbia and Albania will find themselves in different groups as well. The relations between the teams of these two countries were very strained at the qualifying matches for Euro 2016.

The World Cup 2018 will take place in several Russian cities.