Argentina plans a controversial football friendly against banned Russia, but don’t expect to see Lionel Messi on the pitch.

At a Glance

• Argentina reportedly plans to play a friendly match against Russia in November despite Russia’s FIFA ban
• The match would take place at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium, with preliminary agreements already in place
• Russia has been banned from all FIFA and UEFA competitions since 2022 due to its invasion of Ukraine
• Top stars like Lionel Messi are unlikely to participate due to potential Western sponsor concerns
• President Donald Trump suggested Russia’s participation in the 2026 World Cup could incentivize peace with Ukraine

The Planned Friendly Amid International Ban

Argentina, the reigning World Cup champions, are reportedly set to play an international friendly against Russia during the November international break. The match would take place at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium, with the venue already reserved between November 10 and 18. This development comes despite Russia’s ongoing ban from all FIFA and UEFA competitions since 2022, following the country’s military invasion of Ukraine. Argentine football reporter Gaston Edul first mentioned the possibility last month, with Russian media outlets on Telegram now confirming that preliminary agreements have been made.

Russia has been largely isolated from international football since 2022. FIFA has explicitly barred Russia from competing in the upcoming 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The ban affects both the Russian national team and Russian club teams under UEFA jurisdiction. This isolation represents a significant fall for a nation that hosted the 2018 World Cup and reached the quarterfinals of that tournament.

Messi’s Likely Absence and Russia’s Football Isolation

Reports suggest that major stars like Lionel Messi are unlikely to participate in the proposed friendly match. Western sponsors would likely be uncomfortable with their brand ambassadors playing in Russia amid ongoing international sanctions. This potential absence of Argentina’s biggest stars raises questions about the sporting value of such a friendly, beyond its obvious political dimensions. The Russian national team has not competed in FIFA or UEFA competitions since 2021, with their last competitive match being a loss to Croatia.

Russia has played football despite international isolation, participating in 16 friendlies since its ban, mainly in Moscow. These matches have primarily been against nations with friendly diplomatic relations with Russia. The proposed match with Argentina would represent Russia’s highest-profile friendly since the invasion began, potentially signaling efforts to normalize Russia’s standing in international sports despite ongoing sanctions.

The Politics of International Sports

FIFA and UEFA have maintained that Russia will remain barred from international competitions until the situation with Ukraine is resolved. The ban is part of broader global sanctions, including exclusion from the Olympics. European teams will begin World Cup qualifiers in March 2025, but Russia will not be among them. This exclusion from qualifying means Russia will miss consecutive World Cups, a significant sporting consequence of geopolitical actions.

The potential friendly between Argentina and Russia highlights the complex intersection of sports, politics, and diplomacy. Argentina, as the current World Cup holders, engaging with a banned nation raises questions about the effectiveness and enforcement of international sporting sanctions. For Russia, such high-profile friendlies may serve as a way to challenge their isolation on the world stage. Meanwhile, FIFA’s stance remains firm that Russia must resolve its conflict with Ukraine before returning to international competition.