February 15 – Russia is hosting host Paraguay in a friendly next month in what would be its first men’s national team game against a South American opponent since the invasion of Ukraine.

The Russian Football Union said Wednesday the match will take place at Dynamo Moscow’s stadium on March 25, four days after Russia meets Serbia in another friendly at the same venue.

Since the invasion of Ukraine saw Russia banned by FIFA and UEFA from international competition, the national team has been free to organise friendlies.

Most have so far been against teams from Asia and Africa, as well as one against Cuba in November.

For a while the Russian Football Union considered leaving UEFA and applying to join the more sympathetic Asian Football Confederation but that has now been ruled out.

Nevertheless it seems highly likely Russia’s exile from European football competitions will be maintained as Europe heads into its European Championships Russia-less this summer.

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