The Media Football League Final Returns to Moscow at CSKA VEB Arena
The fifth season of the Media Football League reaches its climactic moment with a home final in Moscow at the CSKA VEB Arena. The official tournament website confirms the event and its venue, underscoring Moscow as a city that continues to host high profile league finales.
In a tightly contested showdown, Broke Boys and 2DROTS will meet in the decisive match. The game is scheduled for Monday, July 15, with kickoff at 20:00 local time in Moscow. Fans can expect a night of competitive football, with a planned intermission performance by the renowned rap artist Basta to entertain spectators during the break.
VEB Arena stands as the third Moscow stadium to host a Media League final. Previously, the final of the first season was staged at the VTB Arena, while the final of the third season took place at the iconic Luzhniki Stadium. The second and fourth season finales were held in Krasnodar and Volgograd respectively, illustrating a diverse venue history for the league finals in Russia.
Beyond the league finale, this season’s finalists will participate in the revamped Russian Cup. For 2DROTS this marks a third appearance in the Russian Cup competition. Their first run occurred in the 2022/23 season when they were eliminated in a penalty shootout by Ivanovo Tekstilshchik in the 1/128 final stage. In the 2023/24 season they advanced to the 1/32 stage, where they were defeated 0-2 by Khimki, a club then competing in the First League. Broke Boys, who reached the Media League final last season, are set to debut in the Russian Cup this year, adding another layer of anticipation to their campaign.
The 2024/25 Russian Cup kicks off on July 23. For the third straight season the competition includes two pathways: the Russian Premier League path and a regional path. Zenit St. Petersburg holds the current cup title, having secured the championship in a tightly fought season finish. Zenit completed a six consecutive title run after edging Rostov 2-1 in the final round while Dynamo, which had led the standings, fell 0-1 to Krasnodar in a parallel fixture. The cup narrative remains dynamic as clubs chase silverware amid changing league landscapes.
In related news, there is speculation about Zenit engaging Flamengo target Claudinho in a potential transfer. The rumor mill highlights growing interest from top clubs in strengthening rosters ahead of the new season, reflecting the ongoing evolution of Russian football’s competitive environment and its relationships with international talent pools. [Source: Official tournament communications and widely reported transfer chatter]