Uzbek football team keen to play friendly with Russia

Team Uzbekistan is keen to arrange a friendly match with Russia later this year. The country’s football federation said it would be happy to discuss arranging the long-awaited game between the two sides.

«We are ready to play with the Russian national team, and we will be happy about it,» Usmon Toshev, who heads the national teams department at the Football Association of Uzbekistan, told sports media outlet Championat on 2 August.

So far, the White Wolves have only one confirmed friendly, the match in October against South Korea, leaving space in the international windows of September to November. If an official proposal is made, Team Uzbekistan can host Russia in Tashkent or travel to Moscow, the official added.

Uzbekistan and Russia last faced each other in 2022, playing to a 0-0 tie. Russia are a «strong opponent,» Toshev stated, also pointing out that the federation has received other offers and the final decision will also be up to head coach Fabio Cannavaro.

Russia’s search for opponents

Since 2022, FIFA and UEFA have banned Russia from their events, and the national team has played friendlies away from official competition. The team has played non-European opposition, including Egypt, Burkina Faso, Trinidad and Tobago, Nicaragua and Mali, in recent months.

Uzbekistan is 60th in the FIFA world rankings, while Russia occupies 35th place.

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