GOODBYE UEFA?

Russian football could be ready to embark on a new era in Asia after flirting with this summer's CAFA Championship

- John Duerden

The last time Russia played a team from their own UEFA confederation was back in November 2021. It seems like a long time ago now. Following the invasion of Ukraine in February last year – and subsequent UEFA and FIFA bans – they received the cold shoulder from Europe and were kicked out of qualification for the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 European Championship. As things stand, the road to North America in 2026 also seems blocked, through the west at least, as most European teams don’t want to be on the same pitch. But that does not mean there is no football to be played at all.

There are takers in Asia where Russia has old friends and is finding new ones too. Last year, there were friendlies against Asian Football Confederation (AFC) members Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, all former Soviet Union republics. In March this year, there was a trip to Tehran and a home tie with Iraq.

On March 29, Russian sports minister Oleg Matytsin talked of possible home and away friendlies with China, the country’s most important political ally: “Given the fact that we have already organised friendly matches with teams from Iran and Iraq, as well as Uzbekistan and our other partner countries, the level of cooperation that China and Russia currently enjoy gives us grounds to hope that such a match may become a reality in the nearest future.”

The country was set to compete in the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) Championship in June, a new eight-nation tournament, though it seems that the invitation will be declined due to scheduling issues.