Wales v Russia
Russia have qualified for the FIFA World Cup on eleven occasions, seven of which were as the Soviet Union and one of which was as hosts in 2018.
The Soviet Union had an impressive record in the UEFA European Championships which saw them win the inaugural tournament in 1960 as well as finishing as runners-up in 1964, 1972 and 1988. Since the collapse of the USSR, Russia have qualified on seven occasions.
The Russian Football Union (VFS) was formed on 19 January 1912 and was admitted to FIFA in the same year. The Union initially consisted of 52 organizations across the Russian Empire playing 16 internationals between 1910 and 1914.
Their first international was a 2-1 defeat to Finland in the 1912 Summer Olympic Games tournament.
Following the October Revolution and the Russian Revolution 1917-1922 the Soviet Union was formed but despite playting two friendly matches against Turkey in 1924 and 1925, the USSR did not join FIFA until 1946 and did not play a competitive match until the 1952 Summer Olympic Games.
After the breakup of the Soviet Union, the Commonwealth of Independant States (CIS) took part in the finals of the 1992 UEFA European Championships after the Soviet Union had secured it's spot prior to the USSR ceasing to exist in December 1991.
With each former Soviet state securing independence and membership of FIFA, Russia played its first international match against Mexico on 16 August 1992 winning 2–0 with a team of former Soviet Union players, including some born in other former Soviet republics.
Russia is recognised by FIFA and UEFA as the successor to the USSR national team and the team which represented the CIS in 1992.
Wales' first meeting with the Soviet Union was during the 1966 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign and their first post-Soviet era meeting with Russia came during the UEFA 2004 European Championship play-offs.
Head to head v. USSR
| P | W | D | L | F | A | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Away | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| ALL | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
Match details
| no. | date | score | scorers (wales) | venue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 264 | 30/05/1965 | USSR 2-1 Wales | W Davies | Lenin Central Stadium, Moscow | WCQ |
| 266 | 27/10/1965 | Wales 2-1 USSR | Vernon, I Allchurch | Ninian Park, Cardiff | WCQ |
| 364 | 30/05/1981 | Wales 0-0 USSR | Racecourse Ground, Wrexham | WCQ | |
| 367 | 18/11/1981 | USSR 3-0 Wales | Dinamo Stadium, Tbilisi | WCQ | |
| 404 | 18/02/1987 | Wales 0-0 USSR | Vetch Field, Swansea | Fr |
Head to head v. Russia
| P | W | D | L | F | A | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Away | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Neutral | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| ALL | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 6 |
Match details
| no. | date | score | scorers (wales) | venue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 517 | 15/11/2003 | Russia 0-0 Wales | Lokomotiv Stadium, Moscow | ECQ | |
| 518 | 19/11/2003 | Wales 0-1 Russia | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | ECQ | |
| 563 | 10/09/2008 | Russia 2-1 Wales | Ledley | Lokomotiv Stadium, Moscow | WCQ |
| 573 | 09/09/2009 | Wales 1-3 Russia | Collins | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | WCQ |
| 627 | 20/06/2016 | Russia 0-3 Wales | Ramsey, Taylor, Bale | Stadium Municipal, Toulouse | EC |
UEFA European Championship winners (1): 19601
UEFA European Championship runners-up (2): 19641, 19721
Welsh players to have made their debut against Russia
Only one Welsh player made their debut for Wales against USSR.
- Steve Lovell - 18 November 1981
Only one Welsh player has made their debut for Wales against Russia.
- Brian Stock - 9 September 2009
1Playing as USSR.
