BEVERLY HILLS, June 14, (THEWILL) – Football’s showpiece event, the FIFA World Cup, gets underway today when hosts Russia face Saudi Arabia following an opening ceremony at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.
The 2018 edition, the 21st, features 32 teams, including holders Germany, competing in 64 games over 32 days to be played out in 12 stadiums, across 11 cities, spread over 1,800 miles.
Germany, which defeated Argentina in 2014 final, is looking to become the first team to win back-to-back World Cups since 1962, while Brazil seeks a record-extending sixth world title.
The month-long tournament is expected to attract one and a half million fans to Russia and an estimated global television audience of over three billion viewers.
There are eight groups, each containing four teams, with the top two advancing to the last 16. The final takes place at the 81,000-capacity Luzhniki Stadium on July 15 (16:00 BST).
World Cup holders Germany, five-time winners Brazil, Euro 2016 winners Portugal, 2014 runners-up Argentina, Belgium, Poland and 1998 winners France are among the eight seeded teams.
Hosts Russia is also seeded, even though they are the tournament’s lowest-placed team – 70th – in FIFA’s world rankings.
Brazil is the only nation to have featured at every single World Cup but they have not won the tournament since 2002, while you have to go back to 1958 to the last time they won it on European soil.
Although the Super Eagles of Nigeria has never gone beyond the second round stage in all its previous attempts, Nigerians are optimistic that the jinx could be broken in Russia.
However, if that doesn’t happen, Nigerians can be consoled as the Eagles have won the fashion world cup having been adjudged as the team with the best kit in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s entertainment star boy, Wizkid has been lined up to perform at the opening ceremony today.
Wizkid will be singing alongside popular American singer and actor, Will Smith and Nicky Jam. Also lined up for performance is Eza Istrefi.
Musicians are expected to perform 30minutes before the kick off of the competition’s curtain raised between Saudi Arabia and Russia.
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