Football is the current talk of the town as FIFA World Cup 2018 is making its grand start from Thursday, June 14! Football fever has struck their fans in India and abroad too. Curtains will go up in Moscow stadium as Russia hosts the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Sony Ten 2 and Sony Ten 3 will telecast the 2018’s FIFA World Cup live matches in English and Hindi commentary.
FIFA Cup and Football (lowyat.net)
32 Teams Involved in FIFA 2018
The curtain for the opening ceremony will start 30-minutes before the first match between Russia and Saudi Arabia on Thursday, June 14. The opening match as well as the last final match will be played in Moscow (Luzhniki). The FIFA 2018 World Cup stands as the 21st FIFA World Cup, held by FIFA Associations. Russia gained the hosting rights on December 2, 2010, to host FIFA from June 14 tip July 15, 2018. The winners of World Cup 2018 will be qualifying straight for the 2021 FIFA Confederations Cup.
The final tournament for FIFA covers 32 national teams who will strive hard to win every match against their competitors. Total matches to be played are 64 in 12 different venues situated in 11 cities.
2018 FIFA World Cup starts from June 14 (www.wired.com)
This time Panama and Iceland will make their first appearance felt at FIFA. Four-time champion Italy [for the 1st time since 1958] and three-time runner-up the Netherlands [for the 1st time since 2002] failed to make it to the qualification round. The other two notable teams, Ghana and Ivory Coast couldn’t qualify for this year’s FIFA World Cup, which had made through the previous three tournaments. The competition was extremely tough, but the top best 32 teams entered the qualifying process of FIFA World Cup 2018. The favorites to win the FIFA final are mostly Brazil, Germany, France, Spain, Argentina, and Portugal. But nothing can be predicted about in football matches as there will be a constant race till the very end among the 32 teams.
Russia the host of the 2018 FIFA World Cup (Goal.com)
Opening Ceremony of FIFA World Cup 2018
In comparison with previous editions of the tournament, the FIFA World Cup 2018 will have a slightly different format that the spectators will witness. The time, the ceremony will be even more grandeur as it will showcase musical acts along with colorful sparkles rising high to welcome the captains of the 32 best teams along with their teammates and the amazing audiences cheering for their favorite team’s entry on the field.
Half an hour before the match begins, the opening ceremony will take place. Host country celebrating the football will remain the same, just like in earlier tournaments. British singer Robbie Williams will perform at the opening ceremony of the World Cup, alongside one of Russia’s most commended young voice, Aida Garifullina, as announced by the World Cup organizers. Robbie Williams tweeted, “Very excited to be returning to Russia to perform at the opening of the @FIFAWorldCup – tune in early on Thursday for an unforgettable show!” #WorldCup
Mesmerizing Musical Performance on the stage (Australian Financial Review)
Williams further conveyed, “Though I’ve performed a lot in my career, opening the FIFA World Cup to 80,000 football fans in a huge stadium and many millions across the world is a boyhood dream.”
Also, a Brazilian soccer star and a two-time World Cup champion, Ronaldo, will be also present at the opening ceremony of FIFA.
The show will be produced by Russia’s Channel One. Its creative concept will be developed by Felix Mikhailov who is directing the major ceremonies all through the journey of FIFA World Cup 2018. The new format introduced this time for the opening and closing ceremonies of the FIFA World Cup will surely be appreciated by everyone. The beautiful FIFA show will be focusing on football and love, as conveyed by Mikhailov.
High-level performances at the FIFA World Cup (myKhel)
Buy tickets to watch FIFA matches (normandie.fff.fr)
Eight Groups
- Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay
- Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran
- Group C: France, Australia, Peru, Denmark
- Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria
- Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia
- Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea
- Group G: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England
- Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan
FIFA World Cup 2018 Fixtures [Kick-off Time in IST]
| Day/Date | Group | Match [Winning Points] | Venue | Kick-off Time |
| Thurs/June 14 | A | [3] 5 Russia Vs Saudi Arabia 0 | Moscow | 8.30 PM |
| Fri/June 15 | A | [3] 1 Egypt Vs Uruguay 0 | Yekaterinburg | 5.30 PM |
| Fri/June 15 | B | 0 Morocco Vs Iran 1 [3] | Saint Petersburg | 8.30 PM |
| Fri/June 15 | B | [1] 3 Portugal Vs Spain 3 Draw | Sochi | 11.30 PM |
| Sat/June 16 | C | [3] 2 France Vs Australia 1 | Kazan | 3.30 PM |
| Sat/June 16 | D | [1] 1 Argentina Vs Iceland 1 Draw | Moscow | 6.30 PM |
| Sat/June 16 | C | 0 Peru Vs Denmark 1 [3] | Saransk | 9.30 PM |
| Sun/June 16 | D | [3] 2 Croatia Vs Nigeria 0 | Kaliningrad | 0.30 AM |
| Sun/June 17 | E | 0 Costa Rica Vs Serbia 1 [3] | Samara | 5.30 PM |
| Sun/June 17 | F | 0 Germany Vs Mexico 1 [3] | Moscow | 8.30 PM |
| Sun/June 17 | E | [1] 1 Brazil Vs Switzerland 1 Draw | Rostov | 11.30 PM |
| Mon/June 18 | F | [3] 1 Sweden Vs South Korea 0 | Nizhny Novgorod | 5.30 PM |
| Mon/June 18 | G | [3] 3 Belgium Vs Panama 0 | Sochi | 8.30 PM |
| Mon/June 18 | G | 1 Tunisia Vs England 2 [3] | Volgograd | 11.30 PM |
| Tus/June 19
|
H | 1 Colombia Vs Japan 2 [3] | Saransk | 5.30 PM |
| Tus/June 19 | H | 1 Poland Vs Senegal 2 [3] | Moscow | 8.30 PM |
| Tus/June 19 | A | [3] 3 Russia Vs Egypt 1 | St. Petersburg | 11.30 PM |
| Wed/June 20 | B | [3] 1 Portugal Vs Morocco 0 | Moscow | 5.30 PM |
| Wed/June 20 | A | [3] 1 Uruguay Vs Saudi Arabia 0 | Rostov | 8.30 PM |
| Wed/June 20 | B | 0 Iran Vs Spain 1 [3] | Kazan | 11.30 PM |
| Thurs/June 21 | C | [1] 1 Denmark Vs Australia 1 Draw | Yekaterinburg | 5.30 PM |
| Thurs/June 21 | C | [3] 1 France Vs Peru 0 | Samara | 8.30 PM |
| Thurs/June 21 | D | 0 Argentina Vs Croatia 3 [3] | Nizhny Novgorod | 11.30 PM |
| Fri/June 22 | E | [3] 2 Brazil Vs Costa Rica 0 | Saint Petersburg | 5.30 PM |
| Fri/June 22 | D | [3] 2 Nigeria Vs Iceland 0 | Volgograd | 8.30 PM |
| Fri/June 22 | E | 0 Argentina Vs Croatia 3 [3] | Kaliningrad | 11.30 PM |
| Sat/June 23 | G | [3] 5 Belgium Vs Tunisia 2 | Moscow | 5.30 PM |
| Sat/June 23 | F | 1 South Korea Vs Mexico 2 [3] | Sochi | 8.30 PM |
| Sat/June 23 | F | [3] 2 Germany Vs Sweden 1 | Rostov | 11.30 PM |
| Sun/June 24 | G | [3] 6 England Vs Panama 1 | Nizhny Novgorod | 5.30 PM |
| Sun/June 24 | H | [1] 2 Japan Vs Senegal 2 Draw | Yekaterinburg | 8.30 PM |
| Sun/June 24 | H | 0 Poland Vs Columbia 3 [3] | Kazan | 11.30 PM |
| Mon/June 25 | A | [3] 2 Saudi Arabia Vs Egypt 1 | Volgograd | 7.30 PM |
| Mon/June 25 | A | [3] 3 Uruguay Vs Russia 0 | Samara | 7.30 PM |
| Mon/June 25 | B | [1] 2 Spain Vs Morocco 2 Draw | Saransk | 11.30 PM |
| Mon/June 25 | B | [1] 1 Iran Vs Portugal 1 Draw | Kaliningrad | 11.30 PM |
| Tus/June 26 | C | [1] 0 Denmark Vs France 0 Draw | Sochi | 7.30 PM |
| Tus/June 26 | C | 0 Australia Vs Peru 2 [3] | Moscow | 7.30 PM |
| Tus/June 26 | D | 1 Nigeria Vs Argentina 2 [3] | Rostov | 11.30 PM |
| Tus/June 26 | D | 1 Iceland Vs Croatia 2 [3] | St. Petersburg | 11.30 PM |
| Wed/June 27 | F | [3] 2 South Korea Vs Germany 0 | Kazan | 7.30 PM |
| Wed/June 27 | F | 0 Mexico Vs Sweden 3 [3] | Yekaterinburg | 7.30 PM |
| Wed/June 27 | E | 0 Serbia Vs Brazil 2 [3] | Nizhny Novgorod | 11.30 PM |
| Wed/June 27 | E | [1] 2 Switzerland Vs Costa Rica 2 Draw | St. Petersburg | 11.30 PM |
| Thurs/June 28 | H | 0 Japan Vs Poland 1 [3] | Volgograd | 7.30 PM |
| Thurs/June 28 | H | 0 Senegal Vs Colombia 1 [3] | Samara | 7.30 PM |
| Thurs/June 28 | G | 0 England Vs Belgium 1 [3] | Kaliningrad | 11.30 PM |
| Thurs/June 28 | G | 1 Panama Vs Tunisia 2 [3] | Saransk | 11.30 PM |
Argentina’s Messi after getting a goal (InsideTheGames)
ROUND OF 16 (Play-offs)
| Day/Date | Groups-Matches | Venue | Kick-off Time |
| Sat/June 30 | Group C winner 3 France Vs Group D runner-up Argentina 2 | Kazan | 7.30 PM, R1 |
| Sat/June 30 | Group A winner 2 Uruguay Vs Group B runner-up Portugal 1 | Sochi | 11.30 PM, R2 |
| Sun/July 1 | Group B winner 1 (3 P) Spain Vs Group A runner-up Russia 1 (4 P) | Moscow | 7.30 PM, R3 |
| Sun/July 1 | Group D winner 1 (3 P) Croatia Vs Group C runner-up Denmark (4 P) | Nizhny Novgorod | 11.30 PM, R4 |
| Mon/July 2 | Group F winner 2 Brazil Vs Group E runner-up Mexico 0 | Samara | 7.30 PM, R5 |
| Mon/July 2 | Group G winner 3 Belgium Vs Group H runner-up Japan 2 | Rostov-On-Don | 11.30 PM, R6 |
| Tus/July 3 | Group F winner 1 Sweden Vs Group E runner-up Switzerland 0 | St. Petersburg | 7.30 PM, R7 |
| Tus/July 3 | Group G winner 1 (3 P) Columbia Vs Group H runner-up England 1 (4 P) | Moscow | 11.30 PM, R8 |
France beat Argentina terrifically in the Playoff match on June 30 (Loop)
Russia beat Spain in penalties on July 1 (Samaa TV)
Brazil beat Mexico on July 2 (China Daily Europe)
QUARTER-FINALS
| Fri/July 6 | Q1: Winner of R1 Uruguay Vs Winner of R2 France | Nizhny Novgorod | 7.30 PM |
| Fri/July 6 | Q2: Winner of R3 Brazil Vs Winner of R4 Belgium | Kazan | 11.30 PM |
| Sat/July 7 | Q3: Winner of R7 Sweden Vs Winner of R8 England | Samara | 7.30 PM |
| Sat/July 7 | Q4: Winner of R5 Russia Vs Winner of R6 Croatia | Sochi | 11.30 PM |
France vs Uruguay in Quarters (Forbes)
Sweden vs England in Quarterfinal (FreeSuperTips)
Russia vs Croatia in Quarterfinals (www.reuters.com)
SEMI-FINALS
| Tus/July 10 | SF1: Winner Q1 France Vs Winner Q2 Belgium | St. Petersburg | 11.30 PM |
| Wed/July 11 | SF2: Winner Q3 England Vs Winner Q4 Croatia | Moscow | 11.30 PM |
THIRD-PLACE PLAY-OFF
| Sat/July 14 | Loser of SF1 Vs Loser of SF2 | St. Petersburg | 7.30 PM |
FINAL
| Sun/July 15 | Winner SF1 Vs Winner SF2 | Moscow | 8.30 PM |
Russia 2018 World Cup Press Center (Sputnik International)
All the football lovers, be ready tomorrow evening for the opening ceremony, followed by the first match in Russia Vs Saudi Arabia! This year’s FIFA World Cup is set to surprise you with a higher level of excitement as all 32 teams will exhibit their excellent kicks and goals on the field. Among the 32, 16 teams will make it to the next round, beginning from June 30, followed by 8 winning teams to Quarter-finals, followed by 4 winning teams into the Semi-finals, and finally, the winner of SF1 and winner of SF2 will face each other in finals.
Official Symbol of FIFA (dreamstime.com)
In 2014’s FIFA World Cup, Germany was the Champions! Hope a new team rises to become the champion of 2018’s FIFA World Cup! Cheer for your favorite team! 🙂
Sanghamitra Roychoudhary
Follow me as @SanghamitraRch on Twitter.
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