Support The Moscow Times!

Russia to Welcome Foreign Football Fans Visa-Free for Euro Championships

Football fans attending this summer’s UEFA Euro 2020 championship will be able to enter Russia without a visa. Sergei Kiselyov / Moskva News Agency

Football fans attending this summer’s UEFA Euro 2020 championship will be able to enter Russia without a visa, according to amendments signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on Thursday.

Russia’s borders have remained closed to citizens of most countries due to coronavirus restrictions imposed last spring.

Entry to Russia will be granted to all foreign citizens including stateless persons who have tickets for Euro 2020, its Organizing Committee’s press service told Interfax.

“In the current difficult conditions, the movement of people has been seriously reduced,” said Alexei Sorokin, director of the Euro 2020 Organizing Committee.

“With the federal authorities’ understanding, we’re able to open the border for those who are going to visit us in St. Petersburg for a football holiday in the summer.”

Euro 2020 had been postponed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Permission to enter Russia does not cancel the rules and measures that must be followed on Russian territory," Sorokin told Interfax, including presenting a negative Covid-19 test upon arrival. 

The European Championship 2020 will take place from June 11-July 11 across 11 European cities. St. Petersburg will host seven of the tournament’s matches: six B and E group matches and one quarter-final. 

Article updated on May 21 to clarify that the Euro championships are taking place across 11 European cities.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more