Russia at the FIFA
World Cup
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
from the 2022 edition during
qualification. The last time Russia failed
to qualify after a full qualification round
was in 2010.
Overview
History
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
1950
Did not enter Did not enter
1954
1954
6th 5 2 1 2 5 6 5 4 0 1 18 3 1958
1958 Quarter-
finals
6th 4 2 1 1 9 7 4 4 0 0 11 3 1962
1962
Fourth
4th 6 4 0 2 10 6 6 5 0 1 19 6 1966
1966 place
Quarter-
5th 4 2 1 1 6 2 4 3 1 0 8 1 1970
1970 finals
6 3 1 2 5 4 1974
1974
Did not qualify
4 2 0 2 5 3 1978
1978
Second
group 7th 5 2 2 1 7 4 8 6 2 0 20 2 1982
1982
stage
Round of
10th 4 2 1 1 12 5 8 4 2 2 13 8 1986
1986 16
Group
17th 3 1 0 2 4 4 8 4 3 1 11 4 1990
1990 stage
as Russia as Russia
Group
18th 3 1 0 2 7 6 8 5 2 1 15 4 1994
1994 stage
Did not qualify 8 5 2 1 19 5 1998
1998
Group
22nd 3 1 0 2 4 4 10 7 2 1 18 5 2002
2002 stage
12 6 5 1 23 12 2006
2006
Did not qualify
10 7 1 2 19 6 2010
2010
Group
24th 3 0 2 1 2 3 10 7 1 2 20 5 2014
2014 stage
Quarter-
8th 5 2 2 1 11 7 Qualified as hosts 2018
2018 finals
Banned during qualification 10 7 1 2 19 6 2022
2022
2026
2026
2030
To be determined To be determined
2030
2034
2034
2038
2038
Fourth
Total 11/26 45 19 10 16 77 54 125 80 24 21 246 81 Total
place
*Draws include knockout matches
decided via penalty shoot-out
Russia's World Cup record
Soviet Union 2–2 England
First Match
(8 June 1958; Gothenburg, Sweden)
Soviet Union 6–0 Hungary
Biggest Win
(2 June 1986; Irapuato, Mexico)
Uruguay 3–0 Russia
Biggest Defeat
(25 June 2018; Samara, Russia)
Best Result Fourth place in 1966
Worst Result Group stage in 1990, 1994, 2002 and 2014
Record vs
As Soviet Union
FIFA World Cup matches (by team)
Against Wins Draws Losses Total GS GA GD
Argentina 0 0 1 1 0 2 –2
Austria 1 0 0 1 2 0 +2
Belgium 2 0 1 3 8 5 +3
Brazil 0 0 2 2 1 4 –3
Cameroon 1 0 0 1 4 0 +4
Canada 1 0 0 1 2 0 +2
Chile 1 0 1 2 3 3 0
Colombia 0 1 0 1 4 4 0
El Salvador 1 0 0 1 2 0 +2
England 1 1 0 2 3 2 +1
France 0 1 0 1 1 1 0
Hungary 2 0 0 2 8 1 +7
Italy 1 0 0 1 1 0 +1
Mexico 0 1 0 1 0 0 0
New Zealand 1 0 0 1 3 0 +3
North Korea 1 0 0 1 3 0 +3
Poland 0 1 0 1 0 0 0
Portugal 0 0 1 1 1 2 –1
Romania 0 0 1 1 0 2 –2
Scotland 0 1 0 1 2 2 0
Sweden 0 0 1 1 0 2 –2
Uruguay 1 0 1 2 2 2 0
West Germany 0 0 1 1 1 2 –1
Yugoslavia 1 0 0 1 2 0 +2
TOTAL 15 6 10 31 55 34 +19
As Russia
FIFA World Cup matches (By team)
Against Wins Draws Losses Total GS GA GD
Algeria 0 1 0 1 1 1 0
Belgium 0 0 2 2 2 4 –2
Brazil 0 0 1 1 0 2 –2
Cameroon 1 0 0 1 6 1 +5
Croatia 0 1 0 1 2 2 0
Egypt 1 0 0 1 3 1 +2
Japan 0 0 1 1 1 0 +1
Saudi Arabia 1 0 0 1 5 0 +5
Spain 0 1 0 1 1 1 0
South Korea 0 1 0 1 1 1 0
Sweden 0 0 1 1 1 3 –2
Tunisia 1 0 0 1 2 0 +2
Uruguay 0 0 1 1 0 3 –3
TOTAL 4 4 6 14 25 22 +3
Last update 8 July 2018
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
8 June 1958
19:00 CET
