South Korea will play against the 2018 FIFA World Cup hosts Russia at a multi-use stadium in Moscow next month, the national football governing body said Monday.
The Korea Football Association said the match will kick off at 5 p.m. on Oct. 7 local time (or 11 p.m. in Seoul) at the 30,000-seat VEB Arena, home of PFC CSKA Moscow.
The KFA earlier this month announced that South Korea will take on Russia for their 2018 World Cup preparations. The showdown in Moscow is the first friendly since South Korea affirmed their presence at the top FIFA competition on Sept. 5.
In this file photo taken on June 17, 2014, South Korea`s Son Heung-min (R) dribbles past Russian defenders during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Group H match between South Korea and Russia at Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba, Brazil. (Yonhap)
South Korea and Russia have met twice before. The Taeguk Warriors first lost to the Russians 2-1 in a friendly match in Dubai in 2013 and played to a 1-1 draw at the 2014 World Cup Group H match in Brazil.
Russia are currently ranked No. 64 in the FIFA rankings for September, while South Korea sit at No. 51.
After Russia, the South Korean squad will fly to Cannes, France, to face No. 31 Tunisia on Oct. 10. The venue for this friendly has yet to be confirmed.
South Korea's national football team head coach Shin Tae-yong will announce his squad for upcoming friendlies next Monday. He previously said players in foreign leagues will mostly earn selections. (Yonhap)
