VOLGOGRAD, November 21. /TASS/. The national football team of Russia could play an exhibition match against the national squad of China next year, President of the Russian Football Union (RFU) Alexander Dyukov told TASS on Tuesday.

On March 26, Dyukov first announced an exhibition against China was in the pipeline.

"It is possible that we will play a friendly football match against China next year," the RFU chief said. "Such a match could happen if they [China] find a window inside the FIFA calendar."

On November 20, the Russian national football team played a home friendly against Cuba in the city of Volgograd, annihilating their guests 8-0.

The International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) announced on February 28, 2022 that the Russian national team and all professional clubs representing the country were barred from taking part in FIFA-sanctioned events.

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) made the same decision with regard to the Russian national football team’s participation in UEFA tournaments.

Both FIFA and UEFA cited Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine as being the reason for their decisions.

Since sanctions were introduced, the Russian national football squad has played a host of friendlies against other countries, namely against Kyrgyzstan (2-1), Tajikistan (0-0), Uzbekistan (0-0), Iran (1-1), Iraq (2-0), Cameroon (1-0), Kenya (2-2) and Cuba (8-0).