Russia's 2026 football campaign starts with a win and a missed penalty
Russia's national football team played two friendlies in late March, with mixed results. Their first match of 2026 ended in a 3–1 win over Nicaragua, but a later game against Mali remained goalless after a missed penalty. The opening fixture took place on March 27 in Krasnodar, where Russia defeated Nicaragua 3–1. This victory marked the team's first outing of the year.
Before facing Mali, head coach Valeri Karpin confirmed four absences. Goalkeepers Matvei Safonov and Anton Mitryushkin, along with midfielder Danil Fomin and forward Konstantin Tyukavin, were ruled out. The second match unfolded in St. Petersburg's Gazprom Arena. A penalty was awarded after Mali's Nathan Gassama fouled Dmitry Vorobyov. However, Ivan Oblyakov sent the spot-kick over the crossbar, leaving the score at 0–0.
Russia's campaign in 2026 began with a win but was followed by a frustrating draw. The missed penalty against Mali denied them a chance to break the deadlock. Both results now set the tone for their upcoming fixtures.
