August 24, 2016 - 16:26 AMT
Putin to watch football friendly match in Turkey Aug 31

Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive in Turkey to watch a football match between Russian and Turkish teams on August 31 in southern Turkish city of Antalya, Dogan news Agency reported on Tuesday, August 23, according to Xinhua.

Turkish President Erdogan will also attend the friendly match, Dogan added.

Local media reported on July 28 that Turkey will host Russia in a football friendly match ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, a step to help repair the strained bilateral relations after the jet-downing incident in last November.

The two countries began last month to take positive measures to restore the relations, which have been improved since Turkish President Erdogan visited Russia earlier in August.