The Greatest Show on Earth: FIFA World Cup (Russia) June 14 to July 15, 2018

[Leo]

Qualified Teams

Africa: Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Tunisia

Asia: Australia, Iran, Japan, Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia

Europe: Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Iceland, Poland, Portugal, Russia (Host), Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland

North & Central America: Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama

South America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Peru

The draw will be held on 1 December 2017 at the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow. The 32 teams will be drawn into eight groups of four.

For the draw, the teams will be allocated to four pots based on the FIFA World Rankings of October 2017. Pot 1 will contain the hosts Russia (which will be automatically assigned to Position A1) and the best seven teams, Pot 2 will contain the next best eight teams, and so on for Pots 3 and 4. This will be different from previous draws, where only Pot 1 was based on FIFA Rankings while the remaining pots were based on geographical considerations. Same as previous editions, teams from the same confederation will not be drawn against each other for the group stage, except for UEFA where each group can contain up to two teams.

[Leo]

There will be No Italy or Netherlands. It's a bit pathetic.

[Katto]

There will be No Italy or Netherlands. It's a bit pathetic.

it is and we really don't deserve to be there

[Leo]

[Raj92]

The greatest footballing extravaganza on the planet, the 2018 FIFA World Cup is fast approaching, and the fans cannot wait to see their country perform on the biggest of the platforms.

Russia, the host nation for the quadrennial event has left no stone unturned in its preparation and is monitored closely by FIFA. India, as we all know closely, follows this mega footballing event and is set to be a major contributor to the TV viewership of FIFA World Cup.

Hence, in order to assist the fans be in the know-how of when and where their favourite team is playing, we present to you FIFA World Cup 2018 schedule http://bit.ly/WC2018-Timing

[Leo]

Match Schedule

Group Stage
June 14, 2018 (3:00 PM): Russia vs Saudi Arabia (Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow)

June 15, 2018 (12:00 PM): Egypt vs Uruguay (Central Stadium, Yekaterinburg)
June 15, 2018 (6:00 PM): Portugal vs Spain (Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi)
June 15, 2018 (3:00 PM): Morocco vs Iran (Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg)

June 16, 2018 (10:00 AM): France vs Australia (Kazan Arena, Kazan)
June 16, 2018 (4:00 PM): Peru vs Denmark (Mordovia Arena, Saransk)
June 16, 2018 (1:00 PM): Argentina vs Iceland (Otkrytiye Arena, Moscow)
June 16, 2018 (7:00 PM): Croatia vs Nigeria (Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad)

June 17, 2018 (6:00 PM): Brazil vs Switzerland (Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don)
June 17, 2018 (12:00 PM): Costa Rica vs Serbia (Cosmos Arena, Samara)
June 17, 2018 (3:00 PM): Germany vs Mexico (Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow)

June 18, 2018 (12:00 PM): Sweden vs South Korea (Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod)
June 18, 2018 (3:00 PM): Belgium vs Panama (Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi)
June 18, 2018 (6:00 PM): Tunisia vs England (Volgograd Arena, Volgograd)

June 19, 2018 (3:00 PM): Poland vs Senegal (Otkrytiye Arena, Moscow)
June 19, 2018 (12:00 PM): Colombia vs Japan (Mordovia Arena, Saransk)
June 19, 2018 (6:00 PM): Russia vs Egypt (Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg)

June 20, 2018 (3:00 PM): Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia (Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don)
June 20, 2018 (12:00 PM): Portugal vs Morocco (Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow)
June 20, 2018 (6:00 PM): Iran vs Spain (Kazan Arena, Kazan)

June 21, 2018 (3:00 PM): France vs Peru (Central Stadium, Yekaterinburg)
June 21, 2018 (12:00 PM): Denmark vs Australia (Cosmos Arena, Samara)
June 21, 2018 (6:00 PM): Argentina vs Croatia (Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod)

June 22, 2018 (3:00 PM): Nigeria vs Iceland (Volgograd Arena, Volgograd)
June 22, 2018 (12:00 PM): Brazil vs Costa Rica (Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg)
June 22, 2018 (6:00 PM): Serbia vs Switzerland (Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad)

June 23, 2018 (6:00 PM): Germany vs Sweden (Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi)
June 23, 2018 (3:00 PM): South Korea vs Mexico (Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don)
June 23, 2018 (12:00 PM): Belgium vs Tunisia (Otkrytiye Arena, Moscow)

June 24, 2018 (12:00 PM): England vs Panama (Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod)
June 24, 2018 (6:00 PM): Poland vs Colombia (Kazan Arena, Kazan)
June 24, 2018 (3:00 PM): Japan vs Senegal (Central Stadium, Yekaterinburg)

June 25, 2018 (2:00 PM): Uruguay vs Russia (Cosmos Arena, Samara)
June 25, 2018 (2:00 PM): Saudi Arabia vs Egypt (Volgograd Arena, Volgograd)
June 25, 2018 (6:00 PM): Iran vs Portugal (Mordovia Arena, Saransk)
June 25, 2018 (6:00 PM): Spain vs Morocco (Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad)

June 26, 2018 (2:00 PM): Denmark vs France (Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow)
June 26, 2018 (2:00 PM): Australia vs Peru (Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi)
June 26, 2018 (6:00 PM): Nigeria vs Argentina (Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg)
June 26, 2018 (6:00 PM): Iceland vs Croatia (Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don)

June 27, 2018 (6:00 PM): Serbia vs Brazil (Otkrytiye Arena, Moscow)
June 27, 2018 (6:00 PM): Switzerland vs Costa Rica (Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod)
June 27, 2018 (2:00 PM): South Korea vs Germany (Kazan Arena, Kazan)
June 27, 2018 (2:00 PM): Mexico vs Sweden (Central Stadium, Yekaterinburg)

June 28, 2018 (6:00 PM): England vs Belgium (Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad)
June 28, 2018 (6:00 PM): Panama vs Tunisia (Mordovia Arena, Saransk)
June 28, 2018 (2:00 PM): Japan vs Poland (Volgograd Arena, Volgograd)
June 28, 2018 (2:00 PM): Senegal vs Colombia (Cosmos Arena, Samara)

Round of 16
Match 49–June 30, 2018 (6:00 PM): Winner Group A vs Runner-up Group B (Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi)
Match 50–June 30, 2018 (2:00 PM): Winner Group C vs Runner-up Group D (Kazan Arena, Kazan)

Match 51–July 1, 2018 (2:00 PM): Winner Group B vs Runner-up Group A (Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow)
Match 52–July 1, 2018 (6:00 PM): Winner Group D vs Runner-up Group C (Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod)

Match 53–July 2, 2018 (2:00 PM): Winner Group E vs Runner-up Group F (Cosmos Arena, Samara)
Match 54–July 2, 2018 (6:00 PM): Winner Group G vs Runner-up Group H (Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don)

Match 55–July 3, 2018 (2:00 PM): Winner Group F vs Runner-up Group E (Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg)
Match 56–July 3, 2018 (6:00 PM): Winner Group H vs Runner-up Group G (Otkrytiye Arena, Moscow)

Quarter Final
Match 57–July 6, 2018 (2:00 PM): Match 49 vs Winner Match 50 (Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod)
Match 58–July 6, 2018 (6:00 PM): Winner Match 53 vs Winner Match 54 (Kazan Arena, Kazan)

Match 59–July 7, 2018 (6:00 PM): Winner Match 51 vs Winner Match 52 (Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi)
Match 60–July 7, 2018 (2:00 PM): Winner Match 55 vs Winner Match 56 (Cosmos Arena, Samara)

Semi Final
Match 61–July 10, 2018 (6:00 PM): Winner Match 57 vs Winner Match 58 (Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg)
Match 62–July 11, 2018 (6:00 PM): Winner Match 59 vs Winner Match 60 (Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow)

Third Place Play Off
Match 63–July 14, 2018 (2:00 PM): Loser Match 61 vs Loser Match 62 (Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg)

Final
July 15, 2018 (3:00 PM): Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow

[Leo]

Good Luck to all the Teams. I am excited as usual.

My Prediction of Champion according to possibility though I am a die heart fan of Argentina

1. Germany
2. Brazil
3. France
4. Spain
5. Portugal

[Katto]

we seriously have the shittest team in the tournament except for maybe Panama

[The Third Man]

we seriously have the shittest team in the tournament except for maybe Panama

Aussies have a tough group as well

[Going South]

when there are 4 teams in each group who gets knocked off? all play all other 3 and. only 2 out of 4 go to next round ???

[Going South]

Russian lawmaker urges local women not to have sex with foreigners at the World Cup
Tamara Pletnyova told a Moscow radio station that local women should avoid having sex with foreign men during the 2018 World Cup. She later added that if a woman truly feels the need to do so, she should find a partner of the same race.

hahahahahaha

[Leo]

we seriously have the shittest team in the tournament except for maybe Panama

What are you expecting to be in. Round of 16?

[Katto]

we seriously have the shittest team in the tournament except for maybe Panama

What are you expecting to be in. Round of 16?

just hoping to score a goal is the objective this time...or maybe get a point, but that seems a bit lofty

[Leo]

^^ To be honest it is really a tough group for Australia. All others are giant comparing to them. However, Good Luck.

[Katto]

^^ To be honest it is really a tough group for Australia. All others are giant comparing to them. However, Good Luck.

it would be the same any group they are drawn in
they are one of the lowest seeds in the tournament so they're always going to get a tough group

[raja]

I think I'll support England this time.
That a team like England has only one World Cup title to show for their class is unacceptable.

[Katto]

I think I'll support England this time.
That a team like England has only one World Cup title to show for their class is unacceptable.

not really, because their class is overrated by their own media and the Premier League is only strong because of foreign players

[Katto]

Saudis lose 5-0 to one of the worst teams from Europe

Saudi Arabia finished above Australia in the qualifying group

we're gonna get slaughtered by France

[The Third Man]

Saudi Arabia finished above Australia in the qualifying group

Saudis are in disarray since the qualifiers ended. They lost their manager due to a contract dispute (he's now managing Australia actually) and some of their better players have hardly played this year after moving to Spain. Aussie will do better though it's still a tall order for them to challenge for the top 2 spots. At least Tim Cahill has a chance to join some very exclusive company.

[Going South]

ha. did Saudi arabia entered this via back door just like UAE entered cricket world cup ?

[Going South]

I say America should be in it instead of Saudi arabia or Australia. we would be cohosting soon. back door or otherwise.

[Katto]

I say America should be in it instead of Saudi arabia or Australia. we would be cohosting soon. back door or otherwise.

the USA are rubbish
they lost to Trinidad & Tobago

none of the Asian teams deserve to be there on merit but they qualify because of spots allocated to regions

it will be even worse in 2026 with more mediocre teams admitted when the final allocation goes up to 48

[Leo]

^^ Not really.

South Korea or Japan could make it possible even if the qualifying round was global. At least South Korea.

[Katto]

^^ Not really.

South Korea or Japan could make it possible even if the qualifying round was global. At least South Korea.

do you really think they would beat Italy and the Netherlands?

[Leo]

^ You cannot say it for granted. South Korea beat Italy in 2002 world cup Round of 16. They also beat Spain in the Quarter Final in the same tournament. Yes, they were the host. But as a host Brazil has 1-7 record vs Germany.

My point is in Asia, South Korea has got the quality to play in world cup if the qualifying round is global.

[Katto]

^ You cannot say it for granted. South Korea beat Italy in 2002 world cup Round of 16. They also beat Spain in the Quarter Final in the same tournament. Yes, they were the host. But as a host Brazil has 1-7 record vs Germany.

My point is in Asia, South Korea has got the quality to play in world cup if the qualifying round is global.

They are not in a strong era though. Look at their recent results. Asia is going backwards.
I recall South Korea had some very dodgy refereeing going their way at the 2002 cup.

[Going South]

2002 was 16 years ago. you need to compare for today’s teams.
TODAY even indian team is better than some Asian teams def better than Saudi team IMO.

[Katto]

2002 was 16 years ago. you need to compare for today’s teams.
TODAY even indian team is better than some Asian teams def better than Saudi team IMO.

[Leo]

^ You cannot say it for granted. South Korea beat Italy in 2002 world cup Round of 16. They also beat Spain in the Quarter Final in the same tournament. Yes, they were the host. But as a host Brazil has 1-7 record vs Germany.

My point is in Asia, South Korea has got the quality to play in world cup if the qualifying round is global.

They are not in a strong era though. Look at their recent results. Asia is going backwards.
I recall South Korea had some very dodgy refereeing going their way at the 2002 cup.

Thats true. Korean achievement was controversial due to poor refereeing. However, you watched today's match, Uruguay vs Egypt?

[Leo]

2002 was 16 years ago. you need to compare for today’s teams.
TODAY even indian team is better than some Asian teams def better than Saudi team IMO.

[Going South]

you need modi for football franchise administration of indian football.

can a cricket stadium double up as a football stadium? how hard would it be ?

which cricket stadiums can be right fit around the world ?

[Katto]

Iran = best team in AFC

stole a win from an OG against Morocco

[The Third Man]

you need modi for football franchise administration of indian football.

can a cricket stadium double up as a football stadium? how hard would it be ?

I think the MCG has staged football matches in the past

[Katto]

you need modi for football franchise administration of indian football.

can a cricket stadium double up as a football stadium? how hard would it be ?

I think the MCG has staged football matches in the past

with disastrous results
its one reason why soccer in Australia is a laughing stock because of some of the internationals played on bumpy cricket pitch squares and the crowd is about 50 metres away from the touch lines

[Katto]

blockbuster Spain v Portugal coming up!

[Leo]

CR-7.

Best footballer of the world? ? ? ?

[Katto]

in the top 3

probably the most accomplished and usually performs at the big moments

[The Third Man]

I think the MCG has staged football matches in the past

with disastrous results
its one reason why soccer in Australia is a laughing stock because of some of the internationals played on bumpy cricket pitch squares and the crowd is about 50 metres away from the touch lines

Where do Australia usually play their home games?

[Going South]

blockbuster Spain v Portugal coming up!

3-3 draw? who would have ‘thunk’ of that!!!

[Katto]

with disastrous results
its one reason why soccer in Australia is a laughing stock because of some of the internationals played on bumpy cricket pitch squares and the crowd is about 50 metres away from the touch lines

Where do Australia usually play their home games?

mostly on rugby stadiums like AAMI Park and Allianz stadium

[Leo]

Good Luck Katto.

[The Third Man]

CR-7.

Best footballer of the world? ? ? ?

He's now joint second international goalscorer of all time

[The Third Man]

Hard luck Aussie

[Katto]

well you need more than luck to get a result against a team that is worth more than 20x the market value

maybe a layer of sandpaper on the defender's foot would've made the difference

[The Third Man]

maybe a layer of sandpaper on the defender's foot would've made the difference

Yeah you missed a trick there

[Leo]

Aussies played awesome.

Question is what the Alien did against Iceland? What an achievement for the newcomers.

[Leo]

What was that? Germany ! ! !

[squarecut]

Germany did not look like the number 1 side and defending champions. Mexico had clearly done their homework.

Having said that, it is not uncommon for teams to lose their first match and still win the tournament. In 1974, West Germany had lost to East Germany 0-1 in their first match. They went on to win the world cup beating Netherlands 2-1 in the final.

[Katto]

Germany did not look like the number 1 side and defending champions. Mexico had clearly done their homework.

Having said that, it is not uncommon for teams to lose their first match and still win the tournament. In 1974, West Germany had lost to East Germany 0-1 in their first match. They went on to win the world cup beating Netherlands 2-1 in the final.

and 2010...

[bolero]

Mexico played superbly beating Germany.

Cuauhtemoc Blanco (no neck) and Luis Hernandez would be proud.