In March the Foreign Minister Julie Bishop floated the idea of a total boycott before clarifying  it did not refer to the national team.

The frosty relationship between Australia and Russia was further fractured following the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and the shooting downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 in the same year resulting in the death of 38 Australians.

Ms Bishop told AAP: "The Australian Government will not interfere in the decisions of the Football Federation of Australia in relation to the World Cup.

"The Australian Ambassador to Moscow will attend the Socceroos games."

The UK also imposed a “state boycott” following the poisoning of ex- spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury.

Football Federation Australia has toed a diplomatic line. An FFA spokesperson told AAP it supported FIFA's "recognition of the importance of human rights and non-discrimination".

"FFA also has an explicit obligation as a FIFA member to take part in FIFA competitions. We believe that events like the World Cup highlight diversity, tolerance and international cooperation.

"That is why FFA is looking forward taking its place among the 32 nations at the World Cup finals and representing Australia."