Russia U15 to Play Under Flag and Anthem at FIFA Event

Russia's under-15 national team will play at a FIFA-sanctioned tournament under the national flag and anthem for the first time since 2022, at the FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival in Azerbaijan from 22 to 31 October.

The draw was confirmed by the Russian Football Union. In the preliminary group Russia face Sudan on 24 October, Sierra Leone and Djibouti on 25 October, then Afghanistan and Turkey on 26 October. Matches are played 8-a-side, two halves of 20 minutes. A total of 191 national teams have entered the festival, and once the group stage is done Russia play five further fixtures against sides finishing in the equivalent positions in their own groups.

"Russia's national team has learned its opponents at the FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival. In the preliminary stage of the tournament our team will play in a group with Afghanistan, Djibouti, Sierra Leone, Sudan and Turkey. After that there will be five more matches against opponents who finish in the same positions in their groups. The festival, featuring 191 national teams, will take place from 22 to 31 October in Azerbaijan. Matches will be played in an 8x8 format, two halves of 20 minutes. This is the first official tournament under the auspices of FIFA since 2022 at which Russia's national team will appear with the state flag and anthem," the Russian Football Union said in a statement.

Russia have been suspended by FIFA and UEFA since the spring of 2022 and restricted to friendly matches since. Earlier this year the side already turned out with flag and anthem at the UEFA Development Tournament, so State Duma deputy Svetlana Zhurova has said in recent remarks that reaching an arrangement with UEFA over Russian sides' return remains, by all accounts, very difficult.