The Russian national football team must at least reach the playoffs at the 2018 World Cup, the Russian Minister of Sports Vitaly Mutko stated during the 'Match TV' channel broadcast.
"Let's set the task of at least reaching the playoffs. If the host team finishes its performance in the qualifying rounds, interest in the tournament in the country drops," Interfax quotes him as saying.
![November 2025 in photos: New Year at GUM, the "City of Living Stories," and autumn scenes](https://en.vestikavkaza.ru/upload2/s400xfull/2025-12-02/1764706769692f49d1538777.83780174.webp "November 2025 in photos: New Year at GUM, the "City of Living Stories," and autumn scenes")
