Russia World Cup News

Richard Bevan praised the Germany team for keeping faith in their coach even despite their exit from the World Cup.

People re-selling their tickets were hoping that their team would make further that ahead in the tournament.

Referees at the World Cup have the power to stop, suspend or abandon a match in the event of discriminatory incidents. 

Soccer`s governing body has warned the RFEF that the Spanish government`s involvement in the election for the football federation`s new president could lead to them being expelled from next year`s World Cup.

Messi and 2014 finalists Argentina were placed alongside a Croatia side featuring Barcelona team-mate Ivan Rakitic and Real Madrid`s Luka Modric, with Nigeria and debutants Iceland rounding out a competitive Group D.

England, who failed to get out of their group in 2014 and were knocked out by Iceland at the last European Championship, will have fond memories of beating Tunisia in the 1998 tournament, when manager Gareth Southgate played centre back.  

Russia should face a sterner test in Luis Suarez's Uruguay -- the two-time World Cup winners who also have Paris Saint-Germain's danger man Edinson Cavani.

World Cup's leading scorer and German legend Miroslav Klose introduced the trophy. Germany will face Mexico, Sweden, and South Korea in Group F as they try to retain the title for the first time since Brazil did in 1962. Earlier in the day, Russian president Vladimir Putin and FIFA boss Gianni Infantino opened the ceremony in the Kremlin, Moscow.

Live coverage of the draw the Russia World Cup at Moscow's Red Square.

President Vladimir Putin is expected to address the footballing world that has descended upon Moscow, in the midst of a freezing Russian winter, to find out who will play who, when and where at the competition next year.

No teams from the same confederation, with the exception of UEFA, cannot be drawn in the same Group. Then again, a maximum of two European teams can be in any Group.

After beating Lionel Messi's Argentina in the final at the Maracana in Rio to lift the World Cup in 2014, the aim for Joachim Loew's side now is to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to retain the trophy.

The Selecao were the first team to qualify for next year's showpiece, wrapping up South American qualifying as runaway leaders with 10 points more than second-place Uruguay.

Russia will host the 2018 World Cup finals in 12 venues spread across 11 cities. Here is a look at all the venues:

The five giants have won 13 of the last 16 World Cups between them. Spain and Germany both qualified without losing, while Brazil sealed first place in the South American group with four rounds to play.

Senegal sealed a place in Russia on Friday by winning 2-0 in South Africa and the other two African qualifiers, Nigeria and Egypt, secured slots last month.

English Premier League pair Diafra Sakho and Sadio Mane played key roles as Senegal defeated South Africa 2-0 qualify for the 2018 World Cup even as Australia played out a frustrating goalless draw with Honduras in their playoff on Friday.

Messi will actually try to spin some of his magic on the Telstar 18 when Argentina take on Russia in a friendly at Moscow`s completely refurbished Luzhniki Stadium on Saturday.

As of 11 October, 23 nations have booked their respective places for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The win helped Argentina finished third in the ten-team qualifiers and booked their ticket to Russia. They are joined by Brazil (1st), Uruguay (2nd) and Colombia (4th). Fifth-placed Peru will take on New Zealand in the inter-confederation play-off.