Welcome to the Championship in Russia!

The time has come: tomorrow the football world chamionship will start in Russia. Until 15 July, we will publish here the most beautiful football moments of our colleagues from all over the world. We start off with the colleagues of ERGO Russia.

This year we have the amazing opportunity to be a country, which is not just sending out our national football team to the championship 2018, but a country that is also the host of this gorgeous event. We are celebrating the competition in eleven big cities all around Russia. The games will take place in twelve contemporary newly constructed or renewed stadiums. As a part of the ERGO Group, we are happy to participate in the #ERGOfansunited initiative! For that matter, we would like to share some information with you about preparation in Russia and want to show you what you can expect here.

Preparation for the Competition

The 21st football championship will be held in Russia from June 14 to July 15, 2018. For the first time in its history, Russia will become the host country of the football championship. It is also the first time that the tournament is held in Eastern Europe. Thirty-two teams will take part in the final tournament of the Cup. These teams will play in twelve new stadiums in the following cities: Moscow, Kaliningrad, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Volgograd, Kazan, Samara, Saransk, Rostov-on-Don, Sochi and Yekaterinburg. Interest in the Competition is overwhelming.

The opening match

The opening match, as well as the final, will take place at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. June 14, the Russian team will play against Saudi Arabia. The game will be preceded by the grand opening of the championship. Speakers at the opening ceremony will be famous singers and musicians, such as Will Smith, Era Istrefi and Nicky Jam. These musical stars will perform the official song of the tournament - "Live It Up".

Official mascot

The official mascot of the current championship, the wolf Zabivaka, will play an important role in the preparation and conduct of games. The contest, which was won by Zabivaka, was the most exciting and creative in the history of the official mascots of the Cup.