The key facts

  • The friendly match Uzbekistan — Russia will take place on November 12 in Tashkent, kicking off at 18:00 Moscow time
  • Former Uzbekistan national team player Anzur Ismailov called Russia a serious opponent with international experience
  • On November 17, Russia will play Venezuela in Krasnodar

Match in Tashkent and Assessment of the Opponent

On November 12, the Uzbekistan national team will play a home friendly match against Russia; the opening whistle will sound at 18:00 Moscow time. Former Uzbekistan player Anzur Ismailov, ahead of the game, called Russia a serious opponent with strong footballers and international experience. According to him, for the Uzbekistan team this is above all an opportunity to test themselves against a strong side, assess their current readiness and understand what still needs work, while the home venue in Tashkent should serve as additional motivation.

Context of the November Camp and Recent Results

As part of the November camp, Valery Karpin's squad will play one more game: on November 17, Russia will face Venezuela in Krasnodar. Before that, the Russian team in autumn matches beat Iran (2:0), thrashed Namibia (6:0) and drew with Nigeria (3:3). Russian clubs and national teams remain excluded from tournaments under the auspices of FIFA and UEFA since February 2022. On February 2, 2026, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said that the ban had not produced the desired result and that the question of the return of Russian teams needed to be considered; however, according to The Times, the FIFA Council does not intend to consider admitting the Russians for fear of criticism from European countries. Against this backdrop, friendly matches against national teams such as Uzbekistan remain the main match practice for Karpin's team.