Poland and Sweden refuse to play Russia in World Cup qualifiers because of Ukraine invasion

The national soccer teams for Poland and Sweden will not play Russia in pivotal FIFA World Cup playoff qualifiers in March because of the country's invasion of Ukraine.

Poland's football association president Cezary Kulesza said in a tweet on Saturday it is "time to act!" 

"Due to the escalation of the aggression of the Russian Federation towards Ukraine the Polish national team does not intend to play the play-off match against Russia," he wrote.