Maxim Danilenko, the vice president of the Fisht Stadium, responded to reports about a planned friendly between the Russian and Iraqi national teams set for March 27. He explained that there is no information confirming the match would take place at Fisht, noting that no official letter or request had been received. He added that there has been no discussion about hosting this particular game at the venue, according to statements reported by sports24.
Earlier, Sport-Express had suggested that the Russia–Iraq fixture could occur in Sochi on March 27, but the Russian Football Union (RFU) had not corroborated that claim at the time.
Meanwhile, the only match officially confirmed for that period was a friendly in Tehran on March 23 between Iran and Russia, information released through official channels and media outlets.
During the spring of 2022, FIFA and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) decided to exclude the Russian national team along with all Russian clubs from competitions under their control. That decision left Russian teams with no participation in those governing bodies’ events for the duration of the year.
In early January, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) dismissed Russia’s appeal on the matter. As a result, domestic clubs and the national team faced a full year without participation in major tournaments under FIFA and UEFA governance.
Separately, FIFA previously named Adriana Lima as Global Fan Ambassador, highlighting an engagement with international fans and broad recognition outside the sport itself. This appointment was announced in connection with continued efforts to promote the sport on a global stage and to connect Russian and international audiences with football’s broader cultural reach. [citation: official federation releases]