Host Nation, Dates, and Official Tournament Name
The 2018 FIFA World Cup was hosted by Russia from June 14 to July 15, 2018, marking the first time the tournament was held in Eastern Europe. The event was officially called the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ and featured 32 national teams competing across 11 host cities. FIFA, the governing body of world football, oversaw the organization, broadcasting rights, and trophy tour, while local organizers managed stadium operations and logistics. The tournament followed a 32-team format with a group stage and knockout rounds, concluding with the final at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. Detailed tournament regulations and host city agreements are documented on the official FIFA website at FIFA.com.
Final Match, Winner, and Top Performers
France won the 2018 World Cup in Russia by defeating Croatia 4–2 in the final held on July 15, 2018, at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. Kylian Mbappé scored for France, while Luka Modrić led Croatia and won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. The match was refereed by Néstor Pitana from Argentina, and the game set a viewership record with hundreds of millions of global television and digital viewers. For broader context on major international sports events and their economic impact, see the Forbes overview at Forbes.com.
Host Cities, Stadiums, and Attendance Figures
The 2018 World Cup matches were played in 11 Russian cities, including Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Sochi, Kazan, Samara, Rostov-on-Don, Volgograd, Nizhny Novgorod, Saransk, Kaliningrad, and Yekaterinburg. The Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow hosted the opening match and the final, with a capacity of over 78,000 spectators. Overall tournament attendance exceeded 3 million, making it one of the highest-attended World Cup editions in history. Infrastructure investments included new stadiums, upgraded airports, and expanded rail links, with some projects reported by major business outlets such as Bloomberg at Bloomberg.com.