The team was founded on 25 July 2015, playingAbkhazia in their first game.[1] The DPR team took part in the2018 CONIFA World Football Cup qualification but failed to make it through to the finals. Sascha Düerkop, general secretary of CONIFA, stated that he did not agree with the DPR team politically — comparing them negatively with the Chagossians — but that "that was not the point" and they were allowed to compete.[2] CONIFA were criticized for supporting "Russia-backed separatism."[3] The DPR team was scheduled to take part in the2019 CONIFA European Football Cup but later withdrew.[4][5]
Abkhazia 1–0Donetsk PR 
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