Russia is spending more than $13 billion (11 billion euros) on hosting football’s showpiece, the most important event in the country since the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics.
Hosts Russia could not have wished for a better start to their own FIFA World Cup following their resounding 5-0 victory over Saudi Arabia.
Iury Gazinsky scored the first goal of Russia 2018 with a firmly-placed header, before substitute Denis Cheryshev - who replaced the injured Alan Dzagoev - scored the second before the break.
Artem Dzyuba's goal came mere moments after being introduced before Cheryshev's stunner and Aleksandr Golovin's free kick sealed the victory.
