2018 FIFA World Cup

Worldwide football tournament.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup was hosted by Russia from June 14 to July 15, 2018, marking the 21st edition of the tournament. The competition featured 32 teams, with Russia qualifying automatically as hosts. Matches were played across 12 venues in 11 cities, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Sochi.

The opening match saw Russia defeat Saudi Arabia 5-0 in Moscow. Group stages were highly competitive, with defending champions Germany eliminated in the group phase for the first time since 1938. France emerged as a dominant force, winning all their group matches and progressing through the knockout stages by defeating Argentina, Uruguay, and Belgium.

Croatia's journey to the final was equally impressive, defeating Denmark, Russia, and England in dramatic matches that often went to penalty shootouts. The tournament was notable for the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, which significantly impacted several matches and led to a record number of penalties.

The final took place at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on July 15, where France faced Croatia. France won a thrilling match 4-2, securing their second World Cup title. The game featured an own goal by Mario Mandžukić and goals from Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba, and Kylian Mbappé.

Individually, Luka Modrić of Croatia was named Player of the Tournament, while Harry Kane of England won the Golden Boot with six goals. Kylian Mbappé was recognized as the Best Young Player, and Thibaut Courtois won the Golden Glove as the tournament's best goalkeeper. The 2018 World Cup was celebrated as one of the most exciting in recent history, with over 3 million people attending matches and more than 1.1 billion watching on television.