Former head coach of Kyiv 'Dynamo' Valery Gazzaev expressed hope for the return of Russian teams to the international arena as early as next year. He believes that the isolation could be lifted by 2026, as some countries are already 'for', although many have doubts. Gazzaev also expressed satisfaction with how the Russian Football Union is creating a festive atmosphere around the national teams' matches. His discussions with propagandists were published on 'Glavkom'.
However, it is worth noting that Gazzaev is associated with Putin, which became known during the 'elections' of the President of Russia. He led 'Dynamo' in 2009-2010, and under his leadership, the team achieved certain successes.
On February 28, 2022, after the beginning of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, UEFA and FIFA expelled Russian clubs and national teams from participating in their tournaments. The Ukrainian national football team drew 1:1 with Azerbaijan in the second round of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
In February 2022, UEFA and FIFA excluded Russian clubs and national teams from participating in their tournaments due to Russian aggression against Ukraine. Valery Gazzaev expressed hope for the return of Russian teams to the international arena by 2026, although his ties with Putin make his position questionable.