In the wake of a string of political and diplomatic provocations, Sweden’s government took a strong stance against Russia and announced plans to boycott soccer’s World Cup this year … until its team made it to the knockout rounds.
After the British government blamed Russia for the deadly poisoning of a Russian ex-spy earlier this year, officials in Stockholm said they would stand in solidarity with their NATO ally and stay away from the World Cup being hosted this month by Moscow, even as Sweden’s soccer team qualified for the 32-country extravaganza.
But Swedish officials may have underestimated their national team’s prospects as officials have announced that they will abandon the boycott and show up for the home team at its next game in the World Cup’s round of 16 in St. Petersburg. Sweden was a surprise survivor of an opening-round group that included defending champion Germany, Mexico and South Korea.
“In this situation, we consider it important to support our team and we’ve taken the decision [to end the boycott] after consultations,” Sweden’s foreign minister, Margot Wallstrom, told the Aftonbladet newspaper.
The team is scheduled to play Switzerland on Tuesday, and the winner will go to the quarterfinals.
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