Bolivia to Face Russia in Friendly Match Amid Sanctions

SANTA CRUZ DE LA SIERRA, Bolivia — The Bolivian national football team will face Russia in a friendly match on Tuesday at 1:00 PM (local time) at the VTB Arena in Moscow. This game will contribute to the FIFA rankings, despite Russian football being suspended from official competitions due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Bolivia is the first South American team to play against Russia since the war began. Russian football has been barred from participating in official international matches by FIFA and UEFA since 2022, but the country can still hold friendly matches.

As of September, Russia ranks 33rd in the FIFA standings, bolstered by their recent friendly matches against teams from Asia and Africa. Bolivia, on the other hand, has been active in securing 16 consecutive victories in Class A friendlies, allowing them to maintain their ranking since inactivity for 48 months leads to being unranked.

This match marks a significant moment as it’s the first time the two teams meet since 1993. In their last encounter during the Nehru Cup in India, Russia triumphed 2-1. Now, 32 years later, both teams find themselves in a different context, and the Bolivian squad hopes to leave a mark on European soil.

The VTB Arena, a modern facility in Moscow, is set to host the match, and Bolivia’s players conducted their final training session there before the game. They are preparing for challenging weather conditions, including low temperatures and potential snowfall.

The friendly gives Bolivia a chance not only to climb the FIFA rankings but also to gain invaluable international experience against a historically strong opponent.