With less than a week to the FIFA World Cup 2018 Russia, there are a few things you need to know going into this football season. The enthusiasm and excitement around the 2018 World Cup are far-reaching and come Thursday 14th, 2018, you’ll need to be up to speed with everything World Cup.
The 21st World Cup kicks off with an opening ceremony inside the Luzhniki Stadium, the stadium that holds the honours of hosting the opening game that will see hosts Russia and Saudi Arabia on the field. The opening ceremony will begin from 1400 BST and just two hours later at 1600 BST, the Group A fixture will take place.
Participating Teams
32 national football teams will be competing at the FIFA World Cup 2018. This could be a tournament to remember as it might be the last time that the eight-by-four group format is used. FIFA has been working on a plan to expand the World Cup to 48 teams by the year 2026. Current FIFA president Gianni Infantino, however, has created a new schedule that would rush through the existing plan in time for the 2022 World Cup to be held in Qatar. An expanded tournament plan in just four years cuts it close because of the fear that there isn’t enough time to meet these demands.
Who won last time, and who will this time?
Germany are the defending champions of World Cup 2014 held in Brazil. Mario Götze’s extra-time wonder goal settled the 2014 World Cup final in Germany’s favour, a 1-0 victory over Argentina. This win marked their fourth championship in the quadrennial tournament and their first in 24 years. It’s unfortunate that Götze has been left out of the Germany squad this time around.
When it comes to who will win the 2018 World Cup, there are many viable candidates. We can’t look past the possibility of Germany retaining the title, but if there’s one thing history has taught us it’s that it is impeccably difficult to win consecutive World Cups. Only two teams have had consecutive wins, Italy in ’34 and ’38, and Brazil in ’58 and ’62. Other probable contenders include 2010 World Cup champions Spain, the richly-talented France, Portugal with Cristiano Ronaldo alongside it, Argentina that has Lionel Messi to take it along the way, and Belgium with its “Golden Generation”. Even England intends to impress at the tournament under manager Gareth Southgate.
When is the 2018 World Cup Final?
Although we don’t know who’ll take the cup home this time, we know when it will be determined. The final two nations left in the tournament will contest the final on 15th July 2018 at the Luzhniki Stadium starting at 1600 BST.
Vegan Players in the World Cup
As a representation of the power of a plant-based diet on wellbeing and accelerated performance, here are two vegan pro footballers who will be playing in the World Cup this year: Manchester City star and player in England’s World Cup squad, Fabian Delph and Héctor Bellerín who plays for Arsenal and the Spanish national team. Keep an eye out for these two.
Stay tuned for more details of the 2018 World Cup.