Russia to Host 2026 Football World Cup: Nigeria, Italy and Hungary Qualified For THIS Tournament

The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying first round came to a dramatic end, as there were some prominent teams to miss out on qualifying for the tournament. Nigeria lost their CAF World Cup qualifiers final and will not be able to play in the tournament. Neither will Hungary, who lost to Ireland in a crucial final group game. However, it seems that a World Cup for non-qualified teams is being prepared by the Russian Football Union (RFU), which can positively reflect for the Hungary national football team, Italy national football team and Nigeria national football team.

Russia Planning To Form World Cup For Non Qualified Teams In 2026

For those teams who have failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, they will not really be in any action during the June-July (2026) months when the major tournament takes place in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. It's now being claimed that the Russian Federation is planning to create a World Cup for non qualified teams that will take place simultaneously alongside the FIFA World Cup in 2026.

This Russia 2026 World Cup is being created so that the teams that fail to qualify can at least take part in a competitive tournament during that period. The Russian Union are anticipating that the Italy national football team might also be a part of this tournament if they fail to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. While the details for the World Cup for non-qualified teams has not been clarified yet, it's likely to have a similar structure as the FIFA World Cup, which includes group stages before the knockout rounds and the Russian Union is hoping the Nigeria national football team and Hungary national football team will join it. Moreover, teams like Cameroon, Chile, Finland, Greece and Serbia - who failed to qualify- could also be among the teams invited to take part in the World Cup for non qualified teams.

What Is Reason For Russia Setting Up World Cup For Non Qualified Teams?

The main motive for the Russian Football Union to create the Russia 2026 World Cup is to put pressure on FIFA to lift the current sanctions on the Russia national football team. FIFA and UEFA had both banned Russia from taking part in any international matches affiliated with them since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began the ongoing conflict between the two nations.

That is why the Russian Union is hoping to pressure FIFA into lifting the sanctions and allowing the Russian national football team to take part in FIFA international friendlies, tournaments and also be in the qualification for the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The possibility of a World Cup for non qualified teams can be an enticing prospect for supporters of the likes of Nigeria national football team or Hungary national football team, who failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, but it remains to be seen whether this Russia 2026 World Cup even takes off.