INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
They may not have the prestige of the Euros or World Cup, but exhibition matches like these can never be seen in isolation from global
the Games will be competing under neutral colors
North Korean athletes will compete under their own flag in events ranging from boxing to table tennis
powerhouses like the Netherlands, Italy and Argentina
A friendly soccer match between the women's national teams of Russia and the DPRK in Moscow.Yaroslav Chingaev / Moskva News Agency Since
the beginning of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has clashed with football governing bodies UEFA and FIFA as both suspended
Russian Football Union (FSU) voted against leaving UEFA to join the Asian Football Confederation last December
of football and conflict are not unique to Russia and North Korea
And, admittedly, international football in many ways transcends the politics of war and geopolitical rivalries
Spectators at the match.Yaroslav Chingaev / Moskva News Agency As it was for the Soviet Union, football has historically been a means for
North Korea to engage with countries it would never be able to otherwise
development of nuclear arms, North Korea never faced any existential threats to its participation in major sporting events
nature of this football friendly
But it knows all too well that hosting a World Cup does not safeguard its power in the sporting world
the rights to host the Champions League final in St
Petersburg and the 2023 Super Cup in Kazan, while domestic clubs have been kept well away from UEFA competitions
Running a domestic league and organizing friendly matches against the likes of North Korea may keep fans happy in the near term but cannot
European nations ultimately hold sway over decisions at the top of UEFA and FIFA
team sport like football.Russians asking when its players can ever fully return to playing in competitive football matches are likely to be
The Russian Football Union clearly believes otherwise
For the time being, friendlies against fellow outcasts like North Korea will have to do
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