View source for Football in Russia

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{See also|Football in Imperial Russia|Football in the Soviet Union}}
{{Infobox sport overview
| boxwidth      = 250
| title         = Football in post Soviet Russia
| image         = 
| imagesize     = 240px
| image_alt     = <!-- alt text, which will be seen when hovering over the image -->
| caption       = 
| union         = [[Russian Football Union|RFS]]<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9j1wbp2t1usC&q=soviet+union++soccer&pg=PA217|title=Historical Dictionary of Soccer|first=Tom|last=Dunmore|date=16 September 2011|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=9780810871885|access-date=22 November 2017|via=Google Books|archive-date=23 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223062803/https://books.google.com/books?id=9j1wbp2t1usC&q=soviet+union++soccer&pg=PA217|url-status=live}}</ref>
| country       =  Russia
| sport         = [[Russian Football Union]]
| noncountry    = <!-- other country this country represents -->
| teamlabel1    = <!-- overrides the "National team" label with custom label -->
| nationalteam  = [[Russia national football team|Russia]]
| teamlabel2    = <!-- overrides the "Representative team" label with customer label -->
| repteam       = <!-- overrides the representative team link, requires full wikitext syntax -->
| nickname      = <!-- nicknames -->
| first         = 
| registered    = 
| clubs         = [[List of football clubs in Russia]]
| national_list = {{Plainlist|
* [[FIFA World Cup]] (suspended)
* [[UEFA European Championship]] (suspended)
* [[UEFA Nations League]] (suspended)
}} 
| club_list     = '''League''': <br /> [[Russian Premier League]]<br />[[Russian Football National League]]<br />[[Russian Professional Football League]]<br />[[Russian Amateur Football League]] <br /> '''Cups''': <br /> [[Russian Cup (football)|Russian Cup]] <br />[[Russian Super Cup]]
| intl_list     = {{Plainlist|
* [[FIFA Club World Cup]] (suspended)
* [[UEFA Champions League]] (suspended)
* [[UEFA Europa League]] (suspended)
* [[UEFA Conference League]] (suspended)
* [[UEFA Super Cup]] (suspended)
}} 
| match         = 
| league        = 
}}
[[File:Fotbalový zápas.jpg|thumb|A typical Soviet stadium in [[Vladivostok]].]]
[[File:Stadium Spartak in Moscow.jpg|thumb|[[Otkrytiye Arena]] is [[FC Spartak Moscow|Spartak Moscow]]'s home ground. It was opened in 2014.]]

[[Association football]] is the most popular [[sport in Russia]], surpassing [[ice hockey]] by a wide margin. Approximately 52% of the Russians are interested in football.<ref>https://thechamplair.com/soccer/popularity-study/</ref>

Men's football is overseen by the [[Russian Football Union]], having the [[Russian Premier League]] as the first tier of the [[Russian football league system]], with the [[Russian Football National League]] being the second tier.<ref name="builderbody.ru">{{cite web|url=http://builderbody.ru/samye-populyarnye-vidy-sporta-v-rossii/|title=Самые популярные виды спорта в России, рейтинг ТОП 10|date=7 April 2017|access-date=19 March 2018|archive-date=16 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316162804/http://builderbody.ru/samye-populyarnye-vidy-sporta-v-rossii/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="sports.ru">{{cite web|url=https://www.sports.ru/others/3541497.html|title=Футбол – самый популярный вид спорта в России|date=15 October 2007 |access-date=19 March 2018|archive-date=17 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617093011/https://www.sports.ru/others/3541497.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="polit.ru">{{cite web|url=http://polit.ru/news/2013/07/17/sport/|title="Яндекс" назвал самые популярные виды спорта в России - ПОЛИТ.РУ|website=polit.ru|access-date=19 March 2018|archive-date=3 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403132517/http://polit.ru/news/2013/07/17/sport|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="rambler.ru">{{cite web|url=https://sport.rambler.ru/other/37433288-nazvany-samye-populyarnye-vidy-sporta-u-detey-v-rossii/|title=Названы самые популярные виды спорта у детей в России|date=19 July 2017 |access-date=19 March 2018|archive-date=17 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617043305/https://sport.rambler.ru/other/37433288-nazvany-samye-populyarnye-vidy-sporta-u-detey-v-rossii/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 28 February 2022, due to the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]] and in accordance with a recommendation by the [[International Olympic Committee]] (IOC), [[FIFA]] and [[UEFA]] suspended the participation of Russia, including in the [[2022 FIFA World Cup|Qatar 2022 World Cup]]. The [[Russian Football Union]] unsuccessfully appealed the FIFA and UEFA bans to the [[Court of Arbitration for Sport]], which upheld the bans.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/russia-rus/story/4619546/cas-reject-russias-appeal-over-world-cup-ban-after-ukraine-invasion|title=Russia World Cup ban appeal rejected by CAS|date=18 March 2022|website=ESPN|access-date=23 March 2022|archive-date=19 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319090847/https://www.espn.com/soccer/russia-rus/story/4619546/cas-reject-russias-appeal-over-world-cup-ban-after-ukraine-invasion|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Following the break up of the USSR==
With the USSR collapsing in 1991, Russia emerged as its successor state, with the Soviet football federation being transformed in the Russian football federation.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RONsBQAAQBAJ&q=soviet+union++soccer&pg=PA29|title=Sport in the Soviet Union|last1=Victor|first2=Jennifer|last2=Louis|date=22 October 2013|publisher=Elsevier|isbn=9781483155913|access-date=22 November 2017|via=Google Books|archive-date=23 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223062803/https://books.google.com/books?id=RONsBQAAQBAJ&q=soviet+union++soccer&pg=PA29|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title =Football in Russia: No silver bullet | newspaper =The Economist | publisher =The Economist Newspaper Limited | date =2013-03-15 | url =https://www.economist.com/blogs/gametheory/2013/03/football-russia | access-date =2013-11-19 | archive-date =2014-01-03 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140103072850/http://www.economist.com/blogs/gametheory/2013/03/football-russia | url-status =live }}</ref> While the national teams and the clubs used to be linked to state institutions or mass organizations, in 1991 some of them became private enterprises. Just like in many other spheres of business, corrupt and sometimes bloody division of power began. Furthermore, many teams of the erstwhile [[Soviet Top League]], were now divided between the national football associations of the newly independent republics. Many of the top brand names lost their financing from the government and were left to rot, waiting for some forms of sponsorship. Citizens of Russia are interested mostly in the [[Russia national football team|national team]] that gets to compete in the [[Football World Cup|World Cup]] and the [[UEFA European Football Championship|European Championship]], and in the Premier league, where clubs from different cities look to become champions of Russia. There are also competitions considered less important, such as the [[Russian Cup (football)|Russian Cup]]. Some of the most successful clubs include [[FC Spartak Moscow|Spartak Moscow]], [[FC Lokomotiv Moscow|Lokomotiv Moscow]], [[PFC CSKA Moscow|CSKA Moscow]], [[FC Zenit Saint Petersburg|Zenit St. Petersburg]], [[FC Dynamo Moscow|Dynamo Moscow]] and [[FC Torpedo Moscow]].{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

Today, football is the most popular in Russia, beating [[Ice hockey|hockey]].<ref name="builderbody.ru"/><ref name="sports.ru"/><ref name="polit.ru"/><ref name="rambler.ru"/> A very high proportion of men are interested in it to a certain extent (and many children play it regularly) and women also join men when it comes to the national team. The Russian league is rapidly regaining its former strength because of huge sponsorship deals, an influx of finances and a fairly high degree of competitiveness with roughly 5 teams capable of winning the title. Russian top teams are usually sponsored by state-controlled companies. For example, [[Gazprom]] sponsors [[Zenit Saint Petersburg]], [[Lukoil]] sponsors [[FC Spartak Moscow]], [[Russian Railways]] sponsors [[FC Lokomotiv Moscow]] etc.  Many notable talented foreign players have been and are playing in the Russian league as well as local talented players worthy of a spot in the starting eleven of the best clubs.<ref>{{Citation | last =Nsehe | first =Mfonobong | title =Soccer Star Samuel Eto'o To Earn $25 Million With Russian Team | work =Forbes | date =2011-08-12 | url =https://www.forbes.com/sites/mfonobongnsehe/2011/08/12/soccer-star-samuel-etoo-to-earn-25-million-with-russian-team/ | access-date =2013-11-19 | archive-date =2013-06-03 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130603042653/http://www.forbes.com/sites/mfonobongnsehe/2011/08/12/soccer-star-samuel-etoo-to-earn-25-million-with-russian-team/ | url-status =live }}</ref> Foreign players sometimes face a very hostile environment. A problem of [[Racism in Russia|racism]] in Russian football is particularly important.<ref>{{cite web | title =Russia cracks down on hooligans | work =Fox Sports | publisher =Fox Sports Australia Pty Limited | date =2013-06-22 | url =http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/russia-cracks-down-on-hooligans/story-e6frf423-1226667892531 | access-date =2013-11-19 | archive-date =2023-02-23 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20230223063402/https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/russia-cracks-down-on-hooligans/story-e6frf423-1226667892531?nk=e25f7902d5ddab8c2f381becaeaa6253-1677134039 | url-status =live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last =Murphy | first =Chris | title =World Cup: Russian racism furore is the latest headache for FIFA | newspaper =CNN | publisher =Cable News Network | date =2013-10-25 | url =https://edition.cnn.com/2013/10/25/sport/football/football-russia-racism-2018-world-cup-fifa/ | access-date =2013-11-19 | archive-date =2013-11-03 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20131103093351/http://edition.cnn.com/2013/10/25/sport/football/football-russia-racism-2018-world-cup-fifa/ | url-status =live }}</ref>

The Russian national team gained attention when they defeated traditional European powerhouse Netherlands 3–1 in the [[Euro 2008]] quarterfinals before losing to eventual champions Spain. Nevertheless, four players made the Team of the Tournament. Some players such as [[Andrei Arshavin]] and [[Roman Pavlyuchenko]] earned big-money moves to the English [[Premier League]] after impressing at the tournament.<ref>{{cite news | last =Hughes | first =Bob | title =Challenges Aplenty for Russia's New Soccer Coach | newspaper =The New York Times | location =London | date =2012-07-17 | url =https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/18/sports/soccer/18iht-soccer18.html?_r=1& | access-date =2013-11-19 | archive-date =2018-12-11 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20181211010420/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/18/sports/soccer/18iht-soccer18.html?_r=1& | url-status =live }}</ref> Currently, the majority of Russian footballers play in a home league mainly due to the foreign players limits. This causes a significant disbalance in players' salaries with Russian footballers getting more than their foreign counterparts only because of their nationality.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://russianfootballnews.com/naturalisation-and-foreign-player-limits-in-russian-football/|title=Naturalisation and Foreign Player Limits in Russian Football - Russian Football News|date=7 June 2017|access-date=19 March 2018|archive-date=19 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219153136/http://russianfootballnews.com/naturalisation-and-foreign-player-limits-in-russian-football/|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

Thus as of 2010 the Russian Premier League was among the best in Eastern Europe, as evidenced by recent victories in the [[UEFA Cup]] ([[PFC CSKA Moscow|CSKA Moscow]] defeated [[Sporting CP]] in the 2005 final and [[FC Zenit Saint Petersburg|Zenit St. Petersburg]] earned a victory over [[Rangers F.C.]] in the [[2008 UEFA Cup Final|2008 UEFA Cup]] in Manchester and also claimed the [[2008 UEFA Super Cup|UEFA Super Cup]] in a 2–1 win over Manchester United.)<ref>{{cite news | last =Marcotti | first =Gabriele | title =Russia: Soccer's Sleeping Giant | newspaper =The Wall Street Journal | publisher =Dow Jones & Company, Inc. | date =2010-11-15 | url =https://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748704393604575614542248704232 | access-date =2013-11-19 | archive-date =2015-04-06 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150406041247/http://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748704393604575614542248704232 | url-status =live }}</ref>

On 28 February 2022, due to the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]] and in accordance with a recommendation by the [[International Olympic Committee]] (IOC), [[FIFA]] and [[UEFA]] suspended the participation of Russia, including in the [[2022 FIFA World Cup|Qatar 2022 World Cup]]. The [[Russian Football Union]] unsuccessfully appealed the FIFA and UEFA bans to the [[Court of Arbitration for Sport]], which upheld the bans.<ref name="auto"/>

==League system==<!-- Anchor from Redirect of [Russian football league system]; do not change. -->
The first level of the Russian league system is the 16-club [[Russian Premier League|Premier League]]. Below are two other professional levels, namely [[Russian First League|First League]] and [[Russian Second League|Second League]], both managed by the National Football League. The First League consists of 18 clubs, and the Second League has 72 clubs split geographically into Groups 1 to 4 (representing Southern, Western, Central and Eastern parts of Russia) with varying numbers of clubs. Four clubs from the Far East are allocated to Groups 2 to 4. After each season, the top two clubs of the First League replace the bottom two clubs of the Premier League, and champions of each Second League group replace the four bottom clubs of the First League.

The Second League Division B is the lowest level of professional football in Russia. The next level of football is the Amateur Football League (aka Third Division), which is split into ten zones: North-West (Severo-Zapad), Golden Ring (Zolotoe Koltso), Moscow City (Gorod Moskva), Moscow Region (Podmoskovye), Center, South (Yug), Volga Region (Privolzhye), Ural and West Siberia (Ural i Zapadnaya Sibir), Siberia (Sibir), and Far East (Dalniy Vostok). Also there is a Cup competition in each zone. At the end of the season, the zonal champions and cup winners participate in the AFL Finals to determine the AFL Champions and Cup Winners. There is no automatical promotion/relegation between Second League and AFL, though the winners of each Amateur Football League zone are eligible for promotion to the Second League Division B, provided that they have taken part in the AFL Finals. The actual promotion and relegation is subject to meeting Professional Football League requirements.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

There is no promotion/relegation between the AFL and lower level either, and the composition of AFL zones can change a lot from season to season, as the AFL is basically open to new clubs. At the lower level, there are championships of [[Federal subjects of Russia|federal subjects]]. They are often called the Fourth Division, though these competitions are formally not part of the league system. Nevertheless, some AFL zonal football unions organize tournaments (like Champions League) for the champions of federal subjects which are the members of the respective union. Many federal subject leagues provide a much stronger competition, so clubs often prefer to stay at the 5th level rather than enter the AFL.
The competitions at the 4th and 5th level have a spring-autumn format, unlike the autumn-spring professional league format.

{| class="wikitable"
|- 
!  style="width:4.6%; text-align:center;"|'''Level'''
! colspan="10"  style="width:95%; text-align:center;"|'''League/Division(s)'''
|-
|  style="text-align:center; width:4.6%; background:#efefef;"|1
| colspan="10"  style="width:48%; text-align:center;"|'''[[Russian Premier League]]'''<br />''16 clubs''
|-
|  style="text-align:center; width:4.6%; background:#efefef;"|2
| colspan="10"  style="width:95%; text-align:center;"|'''[[Russian First League]]'''<br />''18 clubs''
|-
| rowspan="2"  style="text-align:center; width:4.6%; background:#efefef;"|3
| colspan="10" style="text-align:center;"|'''[[Russian Second League]] Division A'''
|- style="text-align:center;" 
| colspan="5"  style="width:38%; "| '''Gold Group'''<br />''10 clubs''
| colspan="5"  style="width:38%; "| '''Silver Group'''<br />''10 clubs''
|-
| rowspan="2"  style="text-align:center; width:4.6%; background:#efefef;"|4
| colspan="10" style="text-align:center;"|'''Russian Second League Division B'''
|- style="text-align:center;" 
| colspan="2"  style="width:19%; "| '''Group 1.1'''<br />''7 clubs''
| colspan="2"  style="width:19%; "| '''Group 1.2'''<br />''7 clubs''
| colspan="2"  style="width:19%; "| '''Group 2'''<br />''18 clubs''
| colspan="2"  style="width:19%; "| '''Group 3'''<br />''18 clubs''
| colspan="2"  style="width:19%; "| '''Group 4'''<br />''9 clubs''
|-
| rowspan="2"  style="text-align:center; width:4.6%; background:#efefef;"|5
| colspan="10" style="text-align:center;"|'''[[Russian Amateur Football League]]'''
|-
|  style="width:9.5%; text-align:center;"|'''[[North-West Football Championship|North West]]'''<br />''8 clubs''
|  style="width:9.5%; text-align:center;"|'''Golden Ring'''<br />''10 clubs''
|  style="width:9.5%; text-align:center;"|'''Moscow City'''<br />''10 clubs''
|  style="width:9.5%; text-align:center;"|'''Moscow Region'''<br />''12 clubs''
|  style="width:9.5%; text-align:center;"|'''Center'''<br />''11 clubs''
|  style="width:9.5%; text-align:center;"|'''South'''<br />''9 clubs''
|  style="width:9.5%; text-align:center;"|'''Volga Region'''<br />''8 clubs''
|  style="width:9.5%; text-align:center;"|'''Ural and West Siberia'''<br />''13 clubs''
|  style="width:9.5%; text-align:center;"|'''Siberia'''<br />''15 clubs''
|  style="width:9.5%; text-align:center;"|'''Far East'''<br />''no championship''
|-
| rowspan="2"  style="text-align:center; width:4.6%; background:#efefef;"|6
| colspan="10" style="text-align:center;"|'''Championships of Federal Subjects'''
|-
|  style="width:9.5%; font-size: 12px; vertical-align:top;"|'''Kaliningrad Region:'''<br />Supreme Division (''12 clubs'')<br />First Division (''12 clubs'')<br />Second Division (''7 clubs'')<br /><br />'''Karelia Republic:'''<br />''20+ clubs''<br /><br />'''Komi Republic:'''<br />''12 clubs''<br /><br />'''Murmansk Region:'''<br />''9 clubs''<br /><br />'''Pskov Region:'''<br />''17 clubs''<br /><br />'''St. Petersburg City:'''<br />Supreme League (''10 clubs'')<br />First League (''11 clubs'')<br /><br />'''St. Petersburg Region:'''<br />''10 clubs''<br /><br />'''Arkhangelsk Region, Velikiy Novgorod Region:''' ''no league''
|  style="width:9.5%; font-size: 12px; vertical-align:top;"|'''Ivanovo Region:'''<br />Supreme League (''10 clubs'')<br />First League (''11 clubs'')<br />Second League (''11 clubs'')<br /><br />'''Kirov Region:'''<br />''10 clubs''<br /><br />'''Kostroma Region:'''<br />''8 clubs''<br /><br />'''Tver Region:'''<br />Supreme Division (''16 clubs'')<br />First Division (''20 clubs'')<br /><br />'''Vladimir Region:'''<br />Class I (''13 clubs'')<br />Class II (''13 clubs'')<br />Class III (''12 clubs'')<br /><br />'''Vologda Region:'''<br />''21 clubs''<br /><br />'''Yaroslavl Region:'''<br />''9 clubs''
|  style="width:9.5%; font-size: 12px; vertical-align:top;"|'''Moscow City:'''<br />Division B (''13 clubs'')
|  style="width:9.5%; font-size: 12px; vertical-align:top;"|'''Moscow Region:'''<br />Division B (''27 clubs'')<br />Division C (''32 clubs'')
|  style="width:9.5%; font-size: 12px; vertical-align:top;"|'''Belgorod Region:'''<br />Championship (''9 clubs'')<br />Premiership (''21 clubs'')<br /><br />'''Bryansk Region:'''<br />Division 1 (''16 clubs'')<br />Division 2 (''13 clubs'')<br />Division 3 (''31 clubs'')<br /><br />'''Kaluga Region:'''<br />Championship (''10 clubs'')<br />Premiership Class I (''15 clubs'')<br />Premiership Class II (''6 clubs'')<br /><br />'''Kursk Region:'''<br />Championship (''10 clubs'')<br />Premiership (''10 clubs'')<br /><br />'''Lipetsk Region:'''<br />Championship (''11 clubs'')<br />Premiership (''11 clubs'')<br /><br />'''Oryol Region:'''<br />Championship (''8 clubs'')<br />Countryside Premiership (''11 clubs'')<br /><br />'''Ryazan Region:'''<br />''15 clubs''<br /><br />'''Smolensk Region:'''<br />Championship (''8 clubs'')<br />Premiership (''9 clubs'')<br /><br />'''Tambov Region:'''<br />Class I (''8 clubs'')<br />Class II (''24 clubs'')<br /><br />'''Tula Region:'''<br />''17 clubs''<br /><br />'''Volgograd Region:'''<br />''18 clubs''<br /><br />'''Voronezh Region:'''<br />Championship (''11 clubs'')<br />Prosianoi Memorial (''26 clubs'')
|  style="width:9.5%; font-size: 12px; vertical-align:top;"|'''Adyghea Republic:'''<br />''6 clubs''<br /><br />'''Astrakhan Region:'''<br />Supreme League (''9 clubs'')<br />First League (''13 clubs'')<br /><br />'''Chechen Republic:'''<br />Championship (''11 clubs'')<br />Premiership (''28 clubs'')<br /><br />'''Dagestan Republic:'''<br />''12 clubs''<br /><br />'''Ingushetia Republic:'''<br />''17 clubs''<br /><br />'''Kabardino-Balkar Republic:'''<br />Supreme Division (''14 clubs'')<br />First Division (''14 clubs'')<br /><br />'''Kalmykia Republic:'''<br />''10 clubs''<br /><br />'''Karachay-Cherkes Republic:'''<br />''6 clubs''<br /><br />'''Krasnodar Territory:'''<br />Supreme League (''10 clubs'')<br />First League (''40 clubs'')<br /><br />'''North Ossetia-Alania Republic:'''<br />Supreme Division (''14 clubs'')<br />First Division (''10 clubs'')<br /><br />'''Rostov-on-Don Region:'''<br />Supreme League (''13 clubs'')<br />First League (''36 clubs'')<br />Second League (''22 clubs'')<br /><br />'''Stavropol Territory:'''<br />Class I (''10 clubs'')<br />Class II (''8 clubs'')
|  style="width:9.5%; font-size: 12px; vertical-align:top;"|'''Chuvashia Republic:'''<br />''24 clubs''<br /><br />'''Mariy El Region:'''<br />Supreme League (''8 clubs'')<br />First League (''9 clubs'')<br /><br />'''Mordovia Republic:'''<br />Championship (''10 clubs'')<br />Mordovian Football League (''18 clubs'')<br /><br />'''Nizhniy Novgorod Region:'''<br />''18 clubs''<br /><br />'''Penza Region:'''<br />Supreme League (''9 clubs'')<br />First League (''6 clubs'')<br /><br />'''Samara Region:'''<br />Championship (''8 clubs'')<br />Countryside Supreme League (''12 clubs'')<br />Countryside First League (''11 clubs'')<br /><br />'''Saratov Region:'''<br />''8 clubs''<br /><br />'''Tatarstan Republic:'''<br />Supreme League (''13 clubs'')<br />First League (''13 clubs'')<br />Second League (''8 clubs'')<br /><br />'''Udmurt Republic:'''<br />''8 clubs''<br /><br />'''Ulyanovsk Region:'''<br />Championship (''8 clubs'')<br />Premiership (''14 clubs'')
|  style="width:9.5%; font-size: 12px; vertical-align:top;"|'''Bashkortostan Republic:'''<br />Championship (''10 clubs'')<br />First League (''8 clubs'')<br />Second League (''8 clubs'')<br /><br />'''Chelyabinsk Region:'''<br />''14 clubs''<br /><br />'''Kurgan Region:'''<br />''14 clubs''<br /><br />'''Omsk Region:'''<br />Class I (''7 clubs'')<br />Class II (''8 clubs'')<br /><br />'''Orenburg Region:'''<br />Class I (''6 clubs'')<br />Class II (''8 clubs'')<br /><br />'''Perm Territory:'''<br />Division 1 (''11 clubs'')<br />Division 2 (''15 clubs'')<br /><br />'''Tyumen Region:'''<br />First League (''8 clubs'')<br />Second League (''9 clubs'')<br /><br />'''Yekaterinburg Region:'''<br />Class I (''11 clubs'')<br />Class II (''16 clubs'')<br />Class III (''14 clubs'')
|  style="width:9.5%; font-size: 12px; vertical-align:top;"|'''Altay Territory:'''<br />First League (''8 clubs'')<br />Second League (''24 clubs'')<br /><br />'''Buryatia Republic:'''<br />''9 clubs''<br /><br />'''Irkutsk Region:'''<br />''7 clubs''<br /><br />'''Khakassia Republic:'''<br />''9 clubs''<br /><br />'''Kemerovo Region:'''<br />''14 clubs''<br /><br />'''Krasnoyarsk Territory:'''<br />''6 clubs''<br /><br />'''Novosibirsk Region:'''<br />''15 clubs''<br /><br />'''Tomsk Region:'''<br />''7 clubs''<br /><br />'''Altay Republic, Tyva Republic, Zabaykalye Territory:''' ''no league''
|  style="width:9.5%; font-size: 12px; vertical-align:top;"|'''Jewish Autonomous Region:'''<br />''3+ clubs''<br /><br />'''Primorye Territory:'''<br />''12 clubs''<br /><br />'''Sakhalin Region:'''<br />''9 clubs''<br /><br />'''Sakha-Yakutia Republic:'''<br />''8 clubs''<br /><br />'''Amur Region, Kamchatka Territory, Khabarovsk Territory, Magadan Region:''' ''no league''
|}

==National team==
{{main|Russia national football team}}
The national teams prior were the [[Soviet Union national football team]], which was a football world power,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/6/23/russia-soviet-victoriesracismandmiracles.html|title=Russia: Soviet victories, racism and miracles|access-date=23 November 2017|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201035905/http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/6/23/russia-soviet-victoriesracismandmiracles.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP80-00810A005800610007-7.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170124005730/https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP80-00810A005800610007-7.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= January 24, 2017 |title= Soviet Soccer and Outstanding Soccer Teams|publisher= CIA |access-date=22 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H2T0ZD5S86QC&q=soviet+union++soccer&pg=PA71|title=The Global Art of Soccer|first=Richard|last=Witzig|date=22 November 2017|publisher=CusiBoy Publishing|isbn=9780977668809|access-date=22 November 2017|via=Google Books|archive-date=23 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223063337/https://books.google.com/books?id=H2T0ZD5S86QC&q=soviet+union++soccer&pg=PA71|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_spot/2014/05/28/russia_2014_the_ussr_was_a_soccer_powerhouse_why_isn_t_russia.html|title=The USSR Was a Soccer Powerhouse. Why Isn't Russia?|first=Harrison|last=Stark|work=Slate |date=28 May 2014|access-date=22 November 2017|via=Slate|archive-date=18 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171218031926/http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_spot/2014/05/28/russia_2014_the_ussr_was_a_soccer_powerhouse_why_isn_t_russia.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17988895|title=Euro 1988: Valery Lobanovsky's last stand for Soviet Union|work=BBC Sport |date=12 May 2012|access-date=22 November 2017|archive-date=4 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804203000/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17988895|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://thesefootballtimes.co/2017/07/26/red-army-the-golden-ages-of-the-soviet-national-team/|title=The golden ages of the Soviet national team|date=26 July 2017|access-date=22 November 2017|archive-date=25 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925023536/http://thesefootballtimes.co/2017/07/26/red-army-the-golden-ages-of-the-soviet-national-team/|url-status=live}}</ref> and the transitional [[CIS national football team]], which took part in the [[Euro 1992]]. Since the collapse of Soviet Union the Russia national team has had success in [[Euro 2008]] before it took ten years to repeat this feat, this time as host of the [[2018 FIFA World Cup]]. Russian team was eliminated in the group stage of the [[1994 World Cup]], [[2002 World Cup]], [[2014 World Cup]], [[Euro 1992]] (as CIS), [[Euro 1996]], [[Euro 2004]], [[Euro 2012]], [[Euro 2016]] and [[Euro 2020]]. Russia didn't qualify for the major tournaments on four occasions: in [[1998 World Cup|1998]], [[Euro 2000|2000]], [[2006 World Cup|2006]] and [[2010 World Cup|2010]]. Russian team is currently ranked 35th in the [[FIFA World Ranking]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://inside.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/men|title=The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking - Ranking Table |last=FIFA.com|website=FIFA.com|access-date=4 April 2024}}</ref>

==Hosting the World Cup==
On December 2, 2010, Russia was awarded the [[2018 FIFA World Cup]]. Russia hosted the tournament for the first time, becoming the largest country to host the World Cup, a title held by the United States since 1994.<ref>{{cite news | title =World Cup 2018 host Russia has a serious soccer hooligan problem | newspaper =news.com.au | publisher =News Limited | date =2013-10-31 | url =http://www.news.com.au/world/world-cup-2018-host-russia-has-a-serious-soccer-hooligan-problem/story-fndir2ev-1226750850902 | access-date =2013-11-19 | archive-date =2013-11-14 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20131114230752/http://www.news.com.au/world/world-cup-2018-host-russia-has-a-serious-soccer-hooligan-problem/story-fndir2ev-1226750850902 | url-status =dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last =Williams | first =Carol J. | title =Soccer World Cup 2018 host is asked to explain anti-gay law | newspaper =Los Angeles Times | date =2013-08-14 | url =http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-soccer-2018-host-russia-gay-law-20130814,0,4543633.story#axzz2l6HVegLj | access-date =2013-11-19 | archive-date =2014-01-03 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140103043151/http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-soccer-2018-host-russia-gay-law-20130814,0,4543633.story#axzz2l6HVegLj | url-status =live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last =Bird | first =Liviu | title =Russia's racism stems from lack of education but can be reversed, experts say | work =NBC Sports: ProSoccerTalk | publisher =NBC Sports | date =2013-10-31 | url =http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2013/10/31/russias-racism-stems-from-lack-of-education-but-can-be-reversed-experts-say/ | access-date =2013-11-19 | archive-date =2013-11-02 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20131102200213/http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2013/10/31/russias-racism-stems-from-lack-of-education-but-can-be-reversed-experts-say/ | url-status =live }}</ref>

==Cup competitions==
The main cup competition in Russia is the [[Russian Cup (football)|Russian Cup]]. Only professional clubs take part in it.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

There is also an Amateur Football League Cup, a competition for the Amateur Football League clubs. The winners of this cup are eligible for promotion to the Second Division.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}} Cups of federal subjects are also played.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

==European competitions==
The Russian League was in 2013 regarded as the 6th strongest league in Europe, based on the [[UEFA coefficient]].<ref>{{cite web | title =UEFA-Ranglisten | work =UEFA.comL Live-Ergebnisse | publisher =UEFA | language =de | url =http://de.uefa.com/memberassociations/uefarankings/index.html | access-date =2013-11-19 | archive-date =2013-11-20 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20131120203301/http://de.uefa.com/memberassociations/uefarankings/index.html | url-status =dead }}</ref>
Russian club sides used to constantly compete in the [[UEFA Champions League]] and [[Europa League]]. Over the last years Russian clubs have won three major European trophies. These are [[2004–05 UEFA Cup]] won by [[PFC CSKA Moscow|CSKA Moscow]], [[2007–08 UEFA Cup]] and [[2008 UEFA Super Cup]] won by [[FC Zenit Saint Petersburg|Zenit St. Petersburg]].{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

==Women's football==
[[Women's football in Russia|Women's football]] is not as popular in Russia as [[Association football|men's football]], although it has increased in popularity in the 2000s.<ref>{{cite news | last =Worgo | first =Tom | title =McDonogh grad braves cold to play pro soccer in Russia | newspaper =The Baltimore Sun | publisher =Tribune Company | date =2013-07-09 | url =http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-county/owings-mills/ph-om-sandiford-0711-20130708,0,6733579.story | access-date =2013-11-19 | archive-date =2013-10-22 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20131022080219/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-county/owings-mills/ph-om-sandiford-0711-20130708,0,6733579.story | url-status =dead }}</ref>

== Football stadiums in Russia ==

Stadiums with a capacity of 40,000 or higher are included. The [[Luzhniki Stadium|Grand Sports Arena of the Luzhniki Olympic Complex]] is the largest stadium in Russia, followed by the [[Krestovsky Stadium|Gazprom Arena]], the home of [[FC Zenit]]. On 24 May 2023, Zenit became the first Russian sports club with 10 million followers on social media.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://en.fc-zenit.ru/news/2023-05-24-zenit-dostig-10-millionov-podpischikov-v-sotsialnykh-setyakh.htm | title=Zenit hit 10 million followers across our social networks }}</ref>
{{row counter|{| class{{=}}"wikitable sortable"
!#!!Image!!Stadium!!Capacity!!City!!Home team(s)!!Inaugurated!!Renovated
|-
| style{{=}}"text-align:center;"| _row_count||[[File:Moscow-Exterior of Luzhniki Stadium (2).jpg|125px]]||[[Luzhniki Stadium]]||81,000<ref>[http://www.luzhniki.ru/eng/brief.aspx?id=15 luzhniki.ru] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205132435/http://www.luzhniki.ru/eng/brief.aspx?id=15 |date=2008-12-05 }}</ref>||[[File:Coat of arms of Moscow.svg|left|16px]][[Moscow]]||[[Russia national football team]],<br />[[1980 Summer Olympics]] and [[2018 FIFA World Cup|2018 World Cup]] || 1956 || 1996–1997, 2001–2004, 2013–2017
|-
| style{{=}}"text-align:center;"| _row_count||[[File:RUS-2016-Aerial-SPB-Krestovsky Stadium 01.jpg|125px]]||[[Krestovsky Stadium|Gazprom Arena]] || 67,000 || [[File:Coat of Arms of Saint Petersburg (2003).svg|left|16px]][[Saint Petersburg]]  || [[FC Zenit Saint Petersburg]],<br />[[2017 FIFA Confederations Cup|2017 Confederations Cup]], 2018 World Cup and [[UEFA Euro 2020|Euro 2020]] || 2017 || 
|-
| style{{=}}"text-align:center;"| _row_count||[[File:FWC 2018 - Group D - NGA v ISL - Stadium Panorama.jpg|125px]]||[[Volgograd Arena]]||45,568||[[File:Coat of arms of Volgograd city.svg|left|16px]][[Volgograd]]||[[FC Rotor Volgograd]],<br />2018 World Cup || 2018 || 
|-
| style{{=}}"text-align:center;"| _row_count||[[File:RubinKazanNewStadium.png|125px]]||[[Ak Bars Arena]]||45,379||[[File:Coat of Arms of Kazan (Tatarstan).svg|left|16px]][[Kazan]]||[[FC Rubin Kazan]],<br />2017 Confederations Cup and 2018 World Cup || 2013 || 
|-
| style{{=}}"text-align:center;"| _row_count||[[File:Stadium Spartak in Moscow.jpg|125px]]||[[Otkrytie Arena]]||45,360||[[File:Coat of arms of Moscow.svg|left|16px]][[Moscow]]||[[FC Spartak Moscow]],<br />2017 Confederations Cup and 2018 World Cup || 2014 || 
|-
| style{{=}}"text-align:center;"| _row_count||[[File:Rostov Arena2018.jpg|125px]]||[[Rostov Arena]]||45,000||[[File:Coat of Arms of Rostov-on-Don.svg|left|16px]][[Rostov-on-Don]]||[[FC Rostov]],<br />2018 World Cup || 2018 || 
|-
| style{{=}}"text-align:center;"| _row_count||[[File:Krylya Fakel test 1.jpg|125px]]||[[Samara Stadium|Cosmos Arena]]||44,918||[[File:Coat of Arms of Samara (Samara oblast).png|left|16px]][[Samara, Russia|Samara]] || [[FC Krylya Sovetov Samara|FC Krylya Sovetov]],<br />2018 World Cup || 2018 || 
|-
| style{{=}}"text-align:center;"| _row_count||[[File:Nizhny Novgorod Stadium (March 2018).jpg|125px]]||[[Nizhny Novgorod Stadium|Strelka Stadium]]||44,899||[[File:Coat of Arms of Nizhny Novgorod.svg|left|16px]][[Nizhny Novgorod]] || [[FC Nizhny Novgorod]],<br />2018 World Cup || 2018 || 
|-
| style{{=}}"text-align:center;"| _row_count||[[File:Match at Mordovia Arena stadium.jpg|125px]]||[[Mordovia Arena]]||44,442||[[File:Coat of Arms of Saransk.svg|left|16px]][[Saransk]]||[[FC Mordovia Saransk]],<br />2018 World Cup || 2018 || 
|-
| style{{=}}"text-align:center;"| _row_count||[[File:Стадион Фишт.JPG|125px]]||[[Fisht Olympic Stadium]]||40,000||[[File:Coat of Arms of Sochi (Krasnodar krai).svg|left|16px]][[Sochi]]||[[PFC Sochi]]<br />[[2014 Winter Olympics]], 2017 Confederations Cup and 2018 World Cup || 2013 || 
|} }}

==See also==
* [[Football in Crimea]]
* [[Football in Moscow]]
* [[Sport in Russia]]
* [[Russian national football team]]
* [[List of football stadiums in Russia]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Seasons in Russian football}}
{{Football in Russia}}
{{Football in Europe}}
{{Football in Asia}}
{{Sport in Russia}}

[[Category:Football in Russia| ]]
[[Category:Sport in Russia by sport]]