It is a weird time to be a fan of the Russian national soccer team. You probably already know the big headline: they are sidelined. Ever since February 2022, FIFA and UEFA have kept the "Our Guys" (Nashi Parni) in a sort of international purgatory. As we roll through 2026, the year of the North American World Cup, Russia is once again the ghost at the feast. They aren't in the qualifiers. They won't be in the tournament.
Honestly, it feels like a lifetime ago since Igor Akinfeev’s foot saved that penalty against Spain in 2018.
Despite the ban, the team hasn't just folded its tents and gone home. They are still playing. They are still training. They are even climbing the FIFA rankings, which sounds impossible but is actually happening. Valery Karpin is still the man in charge, juggling the impossible task of keeping a squad motivated when there’s no trophy at the end of the tunnel.
The Current State of the Russian National Soccer Team
Right now, the Russian national soccer team is basically the world's most high-profile "friendly-only" squad. Because of the ongoing suspension, they can't participate in the Nations League, the Euros, or World Cup qualifying. This means Karpin has to get creative. He’s looking for anyone willing to play, which usually means heading east or south.
In late 2025, they were busy. They drew 1-1 with Peru at the Gazprom Arena in November. They’ve played Iran, Bolivia, and Belarus.
You’ve gotta wonder what it's like in that locker room. Imagine being a young talent like Aleksey Batrakov—a 20-year-old mid-fielder for Lokomotiv Moscow who is absolutely tearing up the Russian Premier League—and knowing you might not see a major tournament until your mid-twenties. It's a tough pill.
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Surprisingly, as of early 2026, Russia sits at 33rd in the FIFA World Rankings. That’s actually a jump of one spot over the last year. How? Well, they keep winning or drawing these friendlies. Since they aren't losing competitive matches (because they aren't playing them), their coefficient stays remarkably stable. It's a statistical quirk that keeps them relevant on paper, even if they’re invisible on the big stage.
Who is actually on the pitch?
The squad is a mix of veteran "survivors" and kids who have never known international competition.
- Matvey Safonov: The goalkeeper recently made headlines with his move to PSG. He's arguably the face of the team now.
- Aleksandr Golovin: Still the creative engine, playing his club ball at Monaco.
- Konstantin Tyukavin: The Dynamo Moscow striker is the one everyone hopes will be the next great Russian goal scorer.
- Aleksey Batrakov: The "wonderkid." He's only 20 but already has massive market value and a chip on his shoulder.
The 2026 World Cup Exclusion
It’s official: Russia will not be at the 2026 World Cup. FIFA and UEFA confirmed the ban would stay in place for the duration of the qualifying cycle. For a country that hosted the tournament less than a decade ago, it's a massive fall from grace.
The Russian Football Union (RFU) tried to fight this. They went to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). They lost. Then they explored moving to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). That talk has cooled off lately because, frankly, the AFC isn't sure they want the political headache either.
Is there a way back?
The path back to "real" soccer is foggy. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin has been pretty blunt—as long as the conflict in Ukraine continues, the ban stays. There was a tiny window where the U-17 teams were almost allowed back in, but the backlash from countries like England, Poland, and Sweden was so fast and so loud that UEFA backed down.
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So, what does a team do when it’s banned from the world?
They play.
In January 2026, there were rumors about the U.S. Soccer Federation talking to the RFU about youth matches. The U.S. denied it immediately. It shows you just how "radioactive" the brand is right now in Western sports circles.
What Most People Get Wrong
People think Russian soccer is dead. It’s not. The Russian Premier League (RPL) is still running, and while the quality has dipped because the top-tier South Americans and Europeans have mostly left, the local development is actually speeding up.
When you can't buy a star from Brazil, you play the kid from your academy.
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That’s why we’re seeing guys like Batrakov and Kislyak emerge. The national team is becoming a "young" team by necessity. If and when the ban is lifted, Russia might actually return with a squad that is more cohesive and younger than the aging team we saw at Euro 2020.
Practical Insights for Fans and Follower
If you’re trying to keep track of this team, don't look at the UEFA schedule. You won't find them.
- Check the Friendly Calendars: Keep an eye on Match TV or the RFU official site. Matches are often scheduled with very little lead time because of the political gymnastics involved.
- Follow the Legionnaires: Watch Golovin at Monaco or Safonov at PSG. These players are the only barometer we have for how Russian talent measures up against the world right now.
- Monitor the FIFA Ranking Updates: The next big update is mid-January 2026. If Russia stays in the top 35, they remain a "seeded" threat for whenever they are eventually reintegrated.
The Russian national soccer team is currently a team without a home, playing matches that "don't count" to prepare for a future that hasn't been scheduled. It’s a strange, isolated existence, but for the players on the pitch, the jersey still carries the same weight.
To stay updated on the specific player stats and the evolving roster under Valery Karpin, you should regularly monitor the Russian Premier League top scorer tables. This is currently the most reliable way to see who is actually earning a spot on the national team while the international ban remains in place.