Russia at the FIFA World Cup
International football delegation
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Russia has participated in 4 FIFA World Cups since its independence in December 1991. The Russian Federation played their first international match against Mexico on 16 August 1992, winning 2–0.[1] Their first participation in a World Cup was in the United States in 1994 where they achieved 18th place.
In 1946, the Soviet Union was accepted by FIFA and entered their first World Cup in Sweden 1958. The Soviet Union national football team played in 7 World Cups. Their best performance was reaching fourth place in England 1966. The USSR was dissolved in 1991 when Belarus, Russia and Ukraine declared independence under the Belavezha Accords, along with Georgia. The CIS national football team (Commonwealth of Independent States) was formed with other independent nations in 1992 for the purpose of competing in UEFA Euro 1992. Russia was recognized as the official successor of the Soviet Union by FIFA and inherited the records of the Soviet Union.
Russia most recently qualified for the 2018 edition as hosts. They were banned during qualification for the 2022 edition, and subsequently banned from any participation (including qualifying) in the 2026 edition. The last time Russia failed to qualify after a full qualification round was in 2010.
Record at the FIFA World Cup
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth Place
| FIFA World Cup record | Qualification record | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Campaign | |
as  Soviet Union |
as Soviet Union | |||||||||||||||
 1930 |
Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | — | |||||||||||||
 1934 |
1934 | |||||||||||||||
 1938 |
1938 | |||||||||||||||
 1950 |
Did not enter | Did not enter | 1950 | |||||||||||||
 1954 |
1954 | |||||||||||||||
 1958 | Quarter-finals | 6th | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 3 | 1958 | |
 1962 | 6th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 1962 | ||
 1966 | Fourth place | 4th | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 6 | 1966 | |
 1970 | Quarter-finals | 5th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 1970 | |
 1974 | Did not qualify | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 1974 | ||||||||
 1978 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 1978 | |||||||||
 1982 | Second group stage | 7th | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 2 | 1982 | |
| 1986 | Round of 16 | 10th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 8 | 1986 | |
 1990 | Group stage | 17th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 1990 | |
as  Russia |
as Russia | |||||||||||||||
 1994 | Group stage | 18th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 4 | 1994 | |
 1998 | Did not qualify | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 5 | 1998 | ||||||||
  2002 | Group stage | 22nd | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 5 | 2002 | |
| 2006 | Did not qualify | 12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 23 | 12 | 2006 | ||||||||
 2010 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 6 | 2010 | |||||||||
 2014 | Group stage | 24th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 5 | 2014 | |
| 2018 | Quarter-finals | 8th | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 7 | Qualified as hosts | 2018 | ||||||
 2022 | Banned during qualification | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 6 | 2022 | ||||||||
 2026 | Banned from entering | Banned from entering | 2026 | |||||||||||||
  2030 | To be determined | To be determined | ||||||||||||||
 2034 |
2034 | |||||||||||||||
| Total | Fourth place | 11/22 | 45 | 19 | 10 | 16 | 77 | 54 | 125 | 80 | 24 | 21 | 246 | 81 | Total | |
- *Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out
| Russia's World Cup record | |
|---|---|
| First Match | Soviet Union 2–2 England (8 June 1958; Gothenburg, Sweden) |
| Biggest Win | Soviet Union 6–0 Hungary  (2 June 1986; Irapuato, Mexico) |
| Biggest Defeat | Uruguay 3–0 Russia (25 June 2018; Samara, Russia) |
| Best Result | Fourth place in 1966 |
| Worst Result | Group stage in 1990, 1994, 2002 and 2014 |
Soviet Union in Sweden 1958
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ∞ | 5 |
| Soviet Union |
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1.00 | 3 |
| England |
3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1.00 | 3 |
 Austria |
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 0.28 | 1 |
| Soviet Union | 2–0 | Austria |
|---|---|---|
A. Ivanov  15'V. Ivanov 62' |
(Report) |
| Soviet Union | 0–2 | Brazil |
|---|---|---|
| (Report) | Vavá 3', 77' |
Group play-off
| Soviet Union | 1–0 | England |
|---|---|---|
| Ilyin 69' |
(Report) |
Quarter-final
| Soviet Union | 0–2 | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| (Report) | Hamrin 49' Simonsson 88' |
Soviet Union in Chile 1962
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soviet Union |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 1.60 | 5 |
 Yugoslavia |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 2.67 | 4 |
| Uruguay |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0.67 | 2 |
 Colombia |
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 0.45 | 1 |
| Soviet Union | 2–0 | Yugoslavia |
|---|---|---|
| Ivanov 51' Ponedelnik 83' |
(Report) |
| Soviet Union | 4–4 | Colombia |
|---|---|---|
| Ivanov 8', 11' Chislenko 10'Ponedelnik 56' |
(Report) | Aceros 21' Coll 68' (Olympic goal) Rada 72'Klinger 86' |
Quarter-final
Soviet Union in England 1966
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soviet Union |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 6.00 | 6 |
 North Korea |
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0.50 | 3 |
| Italy |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 2 |
| Chile |
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0.40 | 1 |
| Soviet Union | 3–0 | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Malofeyev 31', 88' Banishevskiy 33' |
(Report) |
| Soviet Union | 1–0 | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| Chislenko 57' |
(Report) |
| Soviet Union | 2–1 | Chile |
|---|---|---|
| Porkujan 28', 85' |
(Report) | Marcos 32' |
Quarter-final
Semi-final
| Soviet Union | 1–2 | West Germany |
|---|---|---|
| Porkujan 88' |
(Report) | Haller 42' Beckenbauer 67' |
Match for third place
Soviet Union in Mexico 1970
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soviet Union |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 5 |
| Mexico |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 5 |
 Belgium |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | –1 | 2 |
 El Salvador |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | –9 | 0 |
| Soviet Union | 4–1 | Belgium |
|---|---|---|
| Byshovets 14', 63' Asatiani 57'Khmelnitsky 76' |
(Report) | Lambert 86' |
| Soviet Union | 2–0 | El Salvador |
|---|---|---|
| Byshovets 51', 74' |
(Report) |
Quarter-final
| Soviet Union | 0–1 (a.e.t.) | Uruguay |
|---|---|---|
| (Report) | Espárrago 116' |
Soviet Union in Spain 1982
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Brazil |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | +8 | 6 |
| Soviet Union |
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 3 |
 Scotland |
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 3 |
 New Zealand |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 12 | –10 | 0 |
| Soviet Union | 3–0 | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Gavrilov 25' Blokhin 48'Baltacha 69' |
(Report) |
Second round Group A
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Poland |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 3 |
| Soviet Union |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| Belgium |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | –4 | 0 |
| Soviet Union | 1–0 | Belgium |
|---|---|---|
| Hovhannisyan 48' |
(Report) |
Soviet Union in Mexico 1986
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soviet Union |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 | +8 | 5 |
| France |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 5 |
| Hungary |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 9 | –7 | 2 |
| Canada |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | –5 | 0 |
| Soviet Union | 1–1 | France |
|---|---|---|
| Rats 53' |
(Report) | Fernández 60' |
| Soviet Union | 2–0 | Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Blokhin 58' Zavarov 74' |
(Report) |
Round of 16
Soviet Union in Italy 1990
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cameroon |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | –2 | 4 |
 Romania |
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 3 |
| Argentina |
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 3 |
| Soviet Union |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Soviet Union | 0–2 | Romania |
|---|---|---|
| (Report) | Lăcătuş 42', 57' (pen.) |
| Soviet Union | 0–2 | Argentina |
|---|---|---|
| (Report) | Troglio 27' Burruchaga 79' |
| Cameroon | 0–4 | Soviet Union |
|---|---|---|
| (Report) | Protasov 20' Zygmantovich 29'Zavarov 55'Dobrovolski 63' |
Russia in the USA 1994
Russia in South Korea/Japan 2002
Russia in Brazil 2014
| Legend |
|---|
| Group winners and runners-up advance to the round of 16 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belgium |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 9 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 |  Algeria |
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 4 | |
| 3 | Russia |
3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 2 | |
| 4 |  South Korea |
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 1 |
Russia vs South Korea
This was the first time the two countries have played each other in the FIFA World Cup, though they did play a friendly in 2013, which Russia won 2–1. The match ended in a 1–1 draw, with both goals being in the second half.
| Russia | 1–1 | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Kerzhakov 74' |
Report | Lee Keun-ho 68' |
          Russia
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   South Korea
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Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
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Belgium vs Russia
     Belgium
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     Russia
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Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
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Algeria vs Russia
    Algeria
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Russia
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Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
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Russia in Russia 2018
| Legend |
|---|
| Group winners and runners-up advance to the round of 16 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uruguay |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 9 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Russia (H) |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | +4 | 6 | |
| 3 | Saudi Arabia |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | −5 | 3 | |
| 4 |  Egypt |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 | −4 | 0 |
Knockout stage
- Round of sixteen
- Quarter-finals
Player records
Most appearances
Russia's record World Cup player is Dynamo Moscow legend Lev Yashin. The 1958 FIFA World Cup in particular, which was the first one to be widely broadcast on television, had a major part in introducing Yashin's active and demanding goalkeeping style to the world at large. FIFA have established him as the best goalkeeper of the 20th century by repeatedly naming him in all-star teams like the FIFA World Cup Dream Team in 2002.
| Rank | Player | Matches | World Cups |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lev Yashin | 13 | 1958, 1962 and 1966 |
| 2 | Volodymyr Bezsonov | 10 | 1982, 1986 and 1990 |
| 3 | Valentin Ivanov | 9 | 1958 and 1962 |
| Valery Voronin | 9 | 1962 and 1966 | |
| Albert Shesternyov | 9 | 1966 and 1970 | |
| Rinat Dasayev | 9 | 1982, 1986 and 1990 | |
| Anatoliy Demyanenko | 9 | 1982, 1986 and 1990 | |
| Oleh Kuznetsov | 9 | 1986 and 1990 | |
| 9 | Igor Akinfeev | 8 | 2014 and 2018 |
| Sergei Ignashevich | 8 | 2014 and 2018 | |
| Aleksandr Samedov | 8 | 2014 and 2018 |
Top goalscorers
Russia's top goalscorers at the FIFA World Cup, Valentin Ivanov and Oleg Salenko, both won a Golden Boot award. Salenko is the only player who has ever scored five goals in a single World Cup match, and the only player to win the Golden Boot even though his team was eliminated in the group stage.
| Rank | Player | Goals | World Cups |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oleg Salenko | 6 | 1994 |
| 2 | Valentin Ivanov | 5 | 1958 (1) and 1962 (4) |
| 3 | Igor Chislenko | 4 | 1962 (2) and 1966 (2) |
| Valeriy Porkuyan | 4 | 1966 | |
| Anatoliy Byshovets | 4 | 1970 | |
| Igor Belanov | 4 | 1986 | |
| Denis Cheryshev | 4 | 2018 | |
| 8 | Eduard Malofeyev | 3 | 1966 |
| Artem Dzyuba | 3 | 2018 | |
| 10 | Aleksandr Ivanov | 2 | 1958 |
| Viktor Ponedelnik | 2 | 1962 | |
| Oleh Blokhin | 2 | 1982 and 1986 | |
| Oleksandr Zavarov | 2 | 1986 and 1990 |
See also
Notes
- Despite not playing, Cadamuro received a yellow card on the bench.