Reports indicate that Argentina’s national football team, the reigning World Cup champions, is set to play a friendly match against Russia in Moscow this November. The move has raised eyebrows due to FIFA’s ongoing ban on the Russian national team, imposed in February 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
According to Argentine football reporter Gastón Edul and Russian Telegram channels, a preliminary agreement has been reached to hold the match at Moscow’s iconic Luzhniki Stadium between November 10 and 18. The fixture, if confirmed, would mark a rare instance of a high-profile national team engaging with Russia, which has been largely isolated from international football since the FIFA and UEFA suspensions. These bans prevent Russian teams from participating in official competitions, including the 2022 World Cup, Euro 2024, and the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
The Russian national team, currently ranked 34th in the FIFA World Rankings, has been limited to friendly matches against non-Western nations such as Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Brunei since the ban. Their last competitive match was a 1-0 loss to Croatia in November 2021. The proposed Argentina match would be a significant departure, pitting Russia against one of football’s powerhouses, led by stars like Lionel Messi. However, reports suggest that Messi and other key players may not participate due to potential backlash from Western sponsors uncomfortable with the optics of playing in Russia.
FIFA’s ban, upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, was a response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, with many European nations, including Poland, Sweden, and England, refusing to play Russia even before the official suspension. The decision to bar Russia was grounded in FIFA’s commitment to human rights and non-discrimination, as outlined in its statutes, and was widely supported by the global football community. Ukraine’s football federation has consistently opposed any competitions involving Russian teams, urging other nations to boycott such matches.
The potential Argentina-Russia friendly has sparked debate. Critics argue it undermines the international community’s efforts to isolate Russia in sports, a symbolic gesture of solidarity with Ukraine. Others see it as a pragmatic move, noting that FIFA’s ban applies only to competitive matches, leaving friendlies in a gray area. Russia has capitalized on this loophole, playing 16 friendlies since 2021, though finding willing opponents has proven challenging, with even allies like Tanzania and Belarus recently declining matches.
This isn’t the first time Argentina and Russia have met in Moscow. In 2017, Argentina defeated Russia 1-0 in a friendly at Luzhniki Stadium, a match that served as the venue’s inaugural event after its renovation. That game, attended by 80,000 fans, featured Messi and was part of Russia’s preparations for hosting the 2018 World Cup.
The reported agreement has not been officially confirmed by the Argentine Football Association or the Russian Football Union. If it proceeds, the match could draw significant scrutiny, particularly given the geopolitical context and Russia’s ongoing exclusion from global football. Some speculate that Argentina’s participation might reflect shifting diplomatic or economic ties, though no official statements have clarified the motivations.
FIFA and UEFA have not commented on the reported friendly, and it remains unclear whether they would intervene, given the non-competitive nature of the match. Meanwhile, football fans and analysts await further details, with many questioning how this high-profile fixture could reshape perceptions of Russia’s place in international sports amidst its continued isolation.