ISD Dubai Sports City has become a premier destination for international football teams seeking top-tier training facilities and competitive match opportunities. ISD hosts clubs and national teams from around the world and provides an ideal environment for both professional and youth teams to refine their skills and prepare for their respective seasons. Below are some of the notable teams that have trained and competed at ISD.

Rodina-2 Moscow

FC Rodina-2 Moscow is a Russian football team based in Moscow, founded in 2022 as a farm club for FC Rodina Moscow. Competing in the Russian Second League’s “Gold” group, the team has quickly made its mark, finishing first in the “Silver” group of the division in the 2024-25 season.

Notable figures associated with the team at ISD include Roman Pavlyuchenko, a former Tottenham Hotspur player and UEFA Euro 2008 bronze medalist, who serves as the strikers’ coach. The team played three matches at ISD Dubai Sports City, drawing 1-1 against Dinamo Samarkand and securing a dominant 3-0 victory over United FC II before a 2-2 draw in their second meeting.

FC Rodina-Mol Moscow

FC Rodina-Mol Moscow serves as the youth extension of FC Rodina Moscow, primarily consisting of players born in 2007 and later. Competing in the Youth Football League (YFL), the team focuses on developing young talent under head coach Evgeniy Bushmanov, a former Russian national team player.

The squad features promising players such as Timur Sharapov and Daniil Borisov. The coaching staff includes notable figures like Aleksandr Sheshukov, a former Lokomotiv Moscow and Spartak Moscow player, and Andrey Konovalov, a four-time Russian Premier League winner. During their time at ISD, Rodina-Mol secured an impressive 3-1 victory over Al Qabila.

Rodina Academy

Rodina Academy is the youth development wing of FC Rodina Moscow, participating in both the Youth Football League and the Moscow Premiership. Focused on grooming the next generation of footballers, the academy has fielded competitive squads across different age categories. At ISD, the Rodina Academy 2008 team dominated LaLiga U18 HPC with a commanding 6-1 victory, while the 2010 squad fell narrowly to LaLiga U16 HPC in a 0-1 encounter.

FK Auda

FK Auda, a Latvian professional club based in Ķekava near Riga, competes in the Latvian Higher League. The club has been on a steady rise, winning the Latvian 2nd Division in 2021 and the Latvian Cup in 2022.

Their performance in the 2024 Latvian league season secured them a spot in the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers for the next edition. During their stay at ISD Dubai Sports City, Auda was coached by Aleksandr Rekhviashvili, a former Georgian national team player. At ISD, Auda won 2-0 against Sogdiana but suffered a narrow 1-2 defeat to Zhejiang from China.

FC Dinamo Samarqand

FC Dinamo Samarqand, one of Uzbekistan’s oldest football clubs, competes in the Uzbekistan Super League. The team, based in the historic city of Samarkand, has a storied past, having won the second tier of Uzbek football in the 2015/16 season and reaching the Uzbek Cup final in 1999/2000. Led by head coach Vadim Abramov, the squad includes standout players like Francis Narh and Ratinho. During their participation at ISD, Dinamo Samarqand played to a 1-1 draw against Rodina-2 Moscow.

DR Congo National Football Team

The DR Congo national football team, nicknamed “Les Léopards,” is a force in African football, having won the African Cup of Nations in 1968 and 1974. While the main national team was not in Dubai due to the international window being closed, a possible youth or domestic-based squad was hosted at ISD. DR Congo has a strong footballing history and remains a prominent name in African football.

Ulsan HD FC

Ulsan HD FC, formerly known as Ulsan Hyundai FC, is one of South Korea’s most successful football clubs, competing in K League 1. The team, owned by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, has won the league title five times, most recently in 2024, and claimed the AFC Champions League twice, in 2012 and 2020.

They are also among the 32 teams selected for the first-ever 32-team FIFA Club World Cup in 2025. The squad includes key players like Giorgi Arabidze and Gustav Ludwigson, while notable figures at ISD included Lee Chung Yong, a former Bolton Wanderers and Crystal Palace player, and Park Chu Young, an ex-Arsenal and AS Monaco forward who now serves as an assistant coach.

Conclusion

ISD Dubai Sports City has been privileged to host an impressive array of teams from various leagues and countries, each bringing their unique style and level of competition. From Russia’s Rodina-2 Moscow to the powerhouse of Ulsan HD FC, these teams have benefited from ISD’s world-class facilities while contributing to Dubai’s growing reputation as a hub for international football training and development.