The twenty first version of the FIFA World Cup will happen in the summer time of 2018 in Russia.
There isn’t any greater sporting occasion on earth than soccer’s quadrennial worldwide championship, which pulls extra tv viewers than even the Olympic Video games.
And the 2018 event is especially notable for being the final earlier than the present World Cup established order turns into a distant reminiscence.
In 2022, the trophy will head to Asia for a controversial event in Qatar that will probably be the first to be performed outdoors of the European summer time due to considerations over the nation’s local weather.
After that, the World Cup will complete its enlargement – opposed by many followers – to forty eight groups and is probably going to be held throughout three nations for the first time in the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026.
In the far more instant future, although, the greatest gamers and nations in world soccer will head to Russia hoping to be topped world champions. Right here is all the things you want to find out about the 2018 event.
WHEN DOES THE WORLD CUP START?
The primary match of the World Cup will contain hosts Russia and kick off on Thursday, June 14, 2018 at 18:00 native time (sixteen:00 BST). It is going to be towards Saudi Arabia in Group A and happen at the Luzhniki Stadium, which will even be the venue for the remaining.
That shall be the solely recreation on the opening day, however after that there will probably be three or 4 video games performed per day for the period of the group stage.
When is the 2018 World Cup remaining?
The event ends on Sunday, July 15, with the last kicking off at 18:00 in Moscow (sixteen:00 BST). The third-place play-off is a day earlier, and the two semi-finals will happen on July 10 and eleven.
All of the remaining 4 matches of the World Cup shall be performed at both the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow or the Krestovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg.
WHERE IS THE WORLD CUP BEING HOSTED?
The World Cup is being hosted in Russia. The event will probably be performed in 12 stadiums throughout eleven cities, all of that are in or simply outdoors European Russia to scale back journey occasions.
Ten of the 12 stadiums are both model new or have been constructed inside the previous 5 years. The one exceptions are the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow and Central Stadium in Yekaterinburg, each of which have been renovated extensively for the event.
You’ll be able to see photographs of and discover out extra about every stadium in our complete stadium guide for the event.
WHEN WAS THE DRAW MADE?
The teams for the World Cup finals have been drawn on December 1, 2017 in Moscow, at the State Kremlin Palace inside the Moscow Kremlin.
The State Kremlin Palace was initially constructed on the orders of Nikita Khrushchev for Communist Celebration conferences, however since the fall of the Soviet Union it has develop into a live performance corridor. The Kremlin as an entire is a fortified complicated that features the residence of Vladimir Putin, the President of the Russian Federation.
Former England worldwide Gary Lineker carried out the draw together with Russian sports journalist Maria Komandnaya.
You’ll be able to take a look at our in-depth take a look at the draw right here.
WHICH TEAMS HAVE QUALIFIED?
The complete record of groups which have certified for the World Cup finals might be discovered under. For a full continent-by-continent breakdown, take a look at our complete guide to the qualification spots.
| Date | Fixture | Venue | Kick-off time (native/UK) |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 14 | Russia v Saudi Arabia | Moscow – Luzhniki | 18:00/sixteen:00 |
| June 15 | Egypt v Uruguay | Ekaterinburg | 17:00/thirteen:00 |
| June 15 | Portugal v Spain | Sochi | 21:00/19:00 |
| June 15 | Morocco v Iran | Saint Petersburg | 18:00/sixteen:00 |
| June sixteen | France v Australia | Kazan | thirteen:00/eleven:00 |
| June sixteen | Peru v Denmark | Saransk | 19:00/17:00 |
| June sixteen | Argentina v Iceland | Moscow – Spartak Stdm | sixteen:00/14:00 |
| June sixteen | Croatia v Nigeria | Kaliningrad | 21:00/20:00 |
| June 17 | Brazil v Switzerland | Rostov-on-Don | 21:00/19:00 |
| June 17 | Costa Rica v Serbia | Samara | sixteen:00/thirteen:00 |
| June 17 | Germany v Mexico | Moscow – Luzhniki | 18:00/sixteen:00 |
| June 18 | Sweden v South Korea | Nizhny Novgorod | 15:00/thirteen:00 |
| June 18 | Belgium v Panama | Sochi | 18:00/sixteen:00 |
| June 18 | Tunisia v England | Volgograd | 21:00/19:00 |
| June 19 | Poland v Senegal | Moscow – Spartak Stdm | 18:00/sixteen:00 |
| June 19 | Colombia v Japan | Saransk | 15:00/thirteen:00 |
| June 19 | Russia v Egypt | Saint Petersburg | 21:00/19:00 |
| June 20 | Uruguay v Saudi Arabia | Rostov-on-Don | 18:00/sixteen:00 |
| June 20 | Portugal v Morocco | Moscow – Luzhniki | 15:00/thirteen:00 |
| June 20 | Iran v Spain | Kazan | 21:00/19:00 |
| June 21 | France v Peru | Ekaterinburg | 20:00/sixteen:00 |
| June 21 | Denmark v Australia | Samara | sixteen:00/14:00 |
| June 21 | Argentina v Croatia | Nizhny Novgorod | 21:00/19:00 |
| June 22 | Nigeria v Iceland | Volgograd | 18:00/sixteen:00 |
| June 22 | Brazil v Costa Rica | Saint Petersburg | 15:00/thirteen:00 |
| June 22 | Serbia v Switzerland | Kaliningrad | 20:00/19:00 |
| June 23 | Germany v Sweden | Sochi | 21:00/19:00 |
| June 23 | South Korea v Mexico | Rostov-on-Don | 18:00/sixteen:00 |
| June 23 | Belgium v Tunisia | Moscow – Spartak Stdm | 15:00/thirteen:00 |
| June 24 | England v Panama | Nizhny Novgorod | 15:00/thirteen:00 |
| June 24 | Poland v Colombia | Kazan | 21:00/19:00 |
| June 24 | Japan v Senegal | Ekaterinburg | 20:00/sixteen:00 |
| June 25 | Uruguay v Russia | Samara | 18:00/15:00 |
| June 25 | Saudi Arabia v Egypt | Volgograd | 17:00/15:00 |
| June 25 | Iran v Portugal | Saransk | 21:00/19:00 |
| June 25 | Spain v Morocco | Kaliningrad | 20:00/19:00 |
| June 26 | Denmark v France | Moscow – Luzhniki | 17:00/15:00 |
| June 26 | Australia v Peru | Sochi | 17:00/15:00 |
| June 26 | Nigeria v Argentina | Saint Petersburg | 21:00/19:00 |
| June 26 | Iceland v Croatia | Rostov-on-Don | 21:00/19:00 |
| June 27 | Serbia v Brazil | Moscow – Spartak Stdm | 21:00/19:00 |
| June 27 | Switzerland v Costa Rica | Nizhny Novgorod | 21:00/19:00 |
| June 27 | South Korea v Germany | Kazan | 17:00/15:00 |
| June 27 | Mexico v Sweden | Ekaterinburg | 19:00/15:00 |
| June 28 | England v Belgium | Kaliningrad | 20:00/19:00 |
| June 28 | Panama v Tunisia | Saransk | 21:00/19:00 |
| June 28 | Japan v Poland | Volgograd | 17:00/15:00 |
| June 28 | Senegal v Colombia | Samara | 18:00/15:00 |
WHAT IS THE WORLD CUP MATCH BALL?
The official match ball for the 2018 World Cup is the Adidas Telstar 18. As with lots of Adidas merchandise this yr, the Telstar 18 is a reimagining of a basic design.
The unique Telstar was used for the 1970 World Cup in Mexico and a barely totally different Telstar design was additionally used in the 1974 World Cup in then-West Germany.
It was formally unveiled on November 9 with Barcelona and Argentina star Lionel Messi serving to to launch the product.
“I used to be fortunate sufficient to get to know this ball a bit earlier and I managed to have a attempt with it,” Messi stated. “I like all of it: the new design, the colors, every part.”
HOW CAN I BUY WORLD CUP TICKETS?
Tickets for the World Cup went on sale on Thursday, September 14 on FIFA.com/tickets. In accordance to FIFA, followers won’t solely have the opportunity to purchase particular person tickets but in addition ticket packages for a number of matches involving a selected staff or host metropolis.
Tickets went on sale in two phases, which have been every divided into two levels. The primary stage of part one started on September 14 and ended on October 12. Throughout this stage, it didn’t make a distinction what day purposes have been submitted; all of them had the similar probability of success, with notification to be delivered by November sixteen.
The second stage of part one started on November sixteen and concluded on November 28. Throughout this era, tickets have been allotted to candidates on a primary-come, first-served foundation.
Part two started after the draw for the World Cup, with a random-choice strategy – like in the first stage of part one – utilized for the first interval between December 5 to January 31.
The second stage of part two begins on March thirteen and ends on April three, with tickets being allotted on a primary-come, first-served foundation.
There will even be a final-minute gross sales part, which can run from April 18 to July 15 – the day of the World Cup last.
How a lot do World Cup tickets value?
The person tickets are cut up up into 4 classes and the costs for every class – transformed to British kilos from U.S. dollars – are proven under. Tickets from class 4 are solely obtainable to Russian residents, and have been transformed from rubles.
| Match | Cat 1 | Cat 2 | Cat three | Cat four |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opening match | £432 | £306 | £173 | £forty three |
| Group matches | £one hundred sixty five | £one hundred thirty | £eighty three | £17 |
| Spherical of sixteen | £193 | £one hundred forty five | £ninety | £30 |
| Quarter-finals | £287 | £200 | £138 | £fifty one |
| Semi-finals | £589 | £377 | £224 | £60 |
| Third-place play-off | £287 | £200 | £138 | £fifty one |
| Remaining | £864 | £558 | £358 | £ninety four |
Most tickets might be bought in advance on-line, however ‘final-minute’ tickets for video games that haven’t already bought out may also be out there to purchase throughout the event at gross sales centres in Russia.
HOW CAN I WATCH THE WORLD CUP ON TV?
As was the case for the World Cup in 2014, BBC and ITV will share the TV rights to the event in the UK.
They’ve struck one other two-event, mixed cope with FIFA that may also see them air the 2022 competitors. The price of that deal is unknown, however their earlier settlement – for the 2010 and 2014 World Cups – was value £220 million.
Each BBC One and ITV will broadcast the last, with the remainder of the knockout stage and the group stage cut up. In 2014, the BBC had first decide of the spherical-of-sixteen and semi-last matches, whereas ITV selected first in the quarter-finals.
In the US, Fox will broadcast the World Cup in English and Telemundo will air the event in Spanish. Their mixed $1 billion deal additionally consists of the 2022 World Cup and Ladies’s World Cups in 2015 and 2019.
In accordance to the New York Occasions , Fox paid $400m for the rights and Telemundo paid $600m.
Fox and Telemundo outbid ESPN (English) and Univision (Spanish), who had purchased the rights to the 2010 and 2014 World Cups for a mixed $425m and hoped to maintain on to them.
WHO ARE THE FAVOURITES TO WIN THE WORLD CUP?
Defending champions Germany are presently favourites to win the World Cup with dabblebet.
Joachim Low shall be with out former captain Philipp Lahm, who has retired, in Russia and Bastian Schweinsteiger is unlikely to be concerned having left Europe for MLS, however he nonetheless boasts a star-studded forged of gamers that features Manuel Neuer, Mats Hummels, Toni Kroos, Mesut Ozil and Thomas Muller.
Germany certified at the prime of their group with an ideal document, scoring forty three objectives in 10 video games.
Euro 2016 finalists France are additionally fancied to be in rivalry as their new era of stars mature right into a formidable unit.
Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe are simply a few of the stars Les Bleus shall be counting on however Didier Deschamps’ aspect had to wait till their ultimate qualifying match to win their group.
Brazil and Spain have jumped forward of France in the betting on the again of extra spectacular qualifying campaigns.
Brazil boast attacking expertise in abudance, with Neymar, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino forming a harmful entrance three, however have additionally discovered an unlikely new star in Barcelona’s Paulinho, who, regardless of flopping at Tottenham, has been a revelation for his nation.
Spain are wanting to bounce again from a meagre few years which noticed them eradicated at the group stage of the 2014 World Cup and knocked out in the spherical of sixteen at Euro 2016.
Julen Lopetegui’s aspect have gained 9 of their 10 qualifiers, ultimately ending 5 factors away from Italy.
Argentina are additionally rated as contenders regardless of their dreadful qualification marketing campaign, whereas Belgium, Italy and England are all outdoors bets to win the event.
WHO IS THE FAVOURITE FOR THE GOLDEN BALL?
It’s exhausting to look previous Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi when it comes to Golden Ball favourites, with Messi having gained the prize regardless of struggling defeat in the last with Argentina in 2014.
Thomas Muller was the runner up to Messi and might be outstanding once more if Germany can repeat as world champions, with Toni Kroos and Manuel Neuer additionally doubtless to be integral to Die Mannschaft‘s hopes.
Neymar was having an outstanding World Cup earlier than he was injured in the quarter-finals in 2014, and appears to discover one other degree when he performs for his nation as the undisputed star of the staff.
If Didier Deschamps can mould his massively gifted France workforce right into a coherent unit, Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba may have the probability to flourish and Sergio Ramos, you’d think about, can be central to any Spain revival.
Apparently, although, the Golden Ball has not been gained by a participant from the World Cup winners since 1994, when Romario was awarded it as Brazil lifted the trophy for a fourth time.
Since then, Ronaldo, Oliver Kahn, Zinedine Zidane and Messi have all been runners up at the event and Diego Forlan misplaced in the third-place play-off with Uruguay.
