Alexander Dyukov discusses a potential Russia versus Qatar friendly and future opponents
Alexander Dyukov, the president of the Russian Football Union, shared that talks with Qatar have progressed toward organizing a friendly match. The official announcement will come once all formal documents are signed. While discussions have already moved beyond the preliminary stage, the next steps depend on final paperwork becoming complete. These comments were relayed by sports24 and echoed in subsequent briefings. Source: RFU.
Dyukov noted that the federation plans to schedule two matches, with a second opponent still to be determined. The plan is to finalize the second opponent within the upcoming two weeks, and the federation intends to announce the confirmed lineup once the second opponent is chosen. Source: RFU.
In the spring of 2022, global football governing bodies took steps that affected Russia. The International Football Federation and the European Football Association suspended the Russian national team and all Russian clubs from competitions under their purview. The move was a major disruption for Russia, altering the usual calendar and forcing teams to adapt to a new set of opponents and fixtures. Source: FIFA and UEFA records.
Looking back at the early part of the year, the Russian squad engaged in three friendly matches against teams from Asia. These games featured Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, providing the squad with valuable international exposure during a period of transition. Source: RFU match reports.
The last official result for Valery Karpin’s team came in November 2021, during a World Cup qualifying match against Croatia, a game that ended 0-1. Since that time, the team has shifted focus to rebuilding and testing new players through friendlies and regional opportunities. Source: RFU archives.
There were earlier discussions about potential friendlies in 2023, including proposals for fixtures with Russia. This context reflects ongoing strategic planning as the federation aligns its schedule with international developments and regulatory decisions. Source: RFU statements.