Russia loses bid to block FIFA ban ahead of World Cup qualifiers

• The Court of Arbitration for Sport's decision follows a similar one made on Tuesday in which it decided to uphold UEFA's ban on Russian soccer teams.

State of play: CAS said that proceedings over Russia's appeal of the ban will continue and a "[p]anel of arbitrations is currently being constituted and the parties are exchanging written submissions."

• This means the ban can still be reversed before the round of games in June.
• But Russia's team will not be allowed to play Poland in a qualifying match that was set to take place next week.

Go deeper:

• Axios explains Ukraine
• The latest on the Russia-Ukraine crisis