World Cup soccer to kick-off today

Moscow, June 13: Football fans from all corners of the globe began to arrive in Russia on Wednesday as World Cup fever got into full swing on the eve of the opening game. The biggest competition in international football kicks-off Thursday evening at Moscow’s Luzhinki Stadium with an encounter between hosts Russia and Saudi Arabia, reports Efe. But there was a party atmosphere in central Moscow as afficionados from Peru, Colombia, Iran and Egypt, to name but a few, struck poses in fancy dress outside the State Historical Museum. Russia’s World Cup venues are concentrated around the European territories, from Moscow to St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad and Sochi.

Meanwhile FIFA President Gianni Infantino predicted on Wednesday that the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia was set to be the best edition of the tournament in history, and emphasised that he had reformed and revived football’s governing body after taking the helm two years ago.

“Russia has this thing of never having been conquered. The breaking news of today is that, as of tomorrow, Russia will be conquered. Russia will be conquered by football!” Infantino said during his speech at the 68th FIFA Congress in the Russian capital Moscow.

“Football will conquer the world as of tomorrow and for quite some time,” he continued.

Regarding his rehabilitation of FIFA, Infantino said the organisation had been “clinically dead” when he took over but was now “alive and well, full of joy and passion and with a vision for its future.” (IANS)