বাংলায় পড়ুন
The draw for the 2018 World Cup was made on 1st December, 2017. Among other matches, the draw threw up some interesting group stage clashes you cannot afford to miss at the next summer’s tournament.
1. Russia vs Saudi Arabia: 14th June Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
As tradition dictates, hosting nation Russia shall play the opening game of the World Cup along with the opening ceremony at the Luzhniki Stadium. One may expect a fantastic atmosphere through the match.
While the hosts Russia and Saudi Arabia make up the lowest ranked teams in the completion, it is certainly not one of the glamorous ties, but nonetheless represents a high chance for host nation Russia to start the tournament on a positive note.
2. Portugal vs Spain: 15th June – Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi
Euro Champions Portugal will face their noisy neighbours Spain in what seems to be an absolute mouth watering clash of Titans at next summer’s World Cup. Arguably the world’s best football player Cristiano Ronaldo will lead Portugal’s team into this fixture. Spain on the other hand will be looking to recapture their best form with the likes of David De Gea (Arguably the World’s best shot stopper), Sergio Ramos, Pedro, Isco along with the upcoming talents of Morata and Asensio.
3. Argentina vs Iceland: 16th June - Otkrytiye Arena, Moscow
Iceland will be going into the tournament riding on the wave of confidence after making it into the Euro quarter finals and post their qualification into the World Cup with relative ease. They will face an Argentina side led by Lionel Messi after Argentina barely managed to qualify for the World Cup. This tie has all the makings of a solid David vs Goliath clash.
4. Germany vs Sweden: 23rd June - Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi
Sweden played quite brilliantly during the World Cup qualifiers which enabled them to topple World Cup hopeful heavyweights Netherlands. Further, the Swedes managed to topple another heavyweight Italy in the European playoffs.
Football lovers around the world shall be bear witness if Sweden are able to pull off another magic trick of sorts to hold off reigning world champions Germany, while football fans would surely be hoping for celebrated Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic (having made an unprecedented return to football after rupturing his knee ligaments last year) to make a return to international football.
5. England vs Belgium: 28th June – Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad
Belgium’s golden generation, boasting of players like Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelo Lukaku, Vincent Kompany, Marouane Fellaini, Christian Benteke and Thibaut Courtois have all the makings of the worst nightmares for any opposition. However, given the strength of squad, the Belgian team may have somewhat underachieved in the recent past.
England, on the other hand boasting the likes of star players Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Kyle Walker, Rashford, Sterling and Jamie Vardy just need to be more clinical. While the England under 17’s squad has managed to be crowned world champions by beating Spain in the finals in Kolkata, it remains to be seen if the senior squad is up to the task of lifting the much elusive World Cup.
We have provided the full list of fixtures for the 2018 World Cup in Russia for our readers below:
Group stages:
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Group A |
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June 14, 2018 |
Russia vs Saudi Arabia in Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow; |
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June 15, 2018 |
Egypt vs Uruguay in Central Stadium, Yekaterinburg; |
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June 19, 2018 |
Russia vs Egypt in Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg; |
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June 20, 2018 |
Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia in Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don; |
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June 25, 2018 |
Uruguay vs Russia in Cosmos Arena, Samara, |
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Saudi Arabia vs Egypt in Volgograd Arena, Volgograd; |
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Group B |
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June 15, 2018 |
Morocco vs Iran in Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg; |
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Portugal vs Spain in Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi; |
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June 20, 2018 |
Portugal vs Morocco in Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow; |
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Iran vs Spain in Kazan Arena, Kazan; |
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June 25, 2018 |
Russia vs Egypt in Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg; |
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June 20, 2018 |
Iran vs Portugal in Mordovia Arena, Saransk; |
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Spain vs Morocco in Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad; |
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Group C |
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June 16, 2018 |
France vs Australia in Kazan Arena, Kazan; |
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Peru vs Denmark in Mordovia Arena, Saransk; |
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June 21, 2018 |
France vs Peru in Central Stadium, Ekaterinburg; |
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Denmark vs Australia in Cosmos Arena, Samara; |
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June 26, 2018 |
Denmark vs France in Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow; |
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Australia vs Peru in Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi; |
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Group D |
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June 16, 2018 |
Argentina vs Iceland in Spartak Stadium, Moscow; |
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Croatia vs Nigeria in Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad; |
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June 21, 2018 June 22, 2018 |
Argentina vs Croatia in Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod; |
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Nigeria vs Iceland in Volgograd Arena, Volgograd; |
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June 26, 2018 |
Nigeria v Argentina in Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg; |
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Iceland v Croatia in Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don; |
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Group E |
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June 17, 2018 |
Costa Rica vs Serbia, Cosmos Arena, Samara; |
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Brazil vs Switzerland, Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don; |
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June 22, 2018 |
Brazil vs Costa Rica, Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg; |
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Serbia vs Switzerland, Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad; |
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June 27, 2018 |
Serbia vs Brazil, Spartak Stadium, Moscow; |
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Switzerland vs Costa Rica, Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod; |
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Group F |
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June 17, 2018 |
Germany vs Mexico, Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow; |
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Brazil vs Switzerland, Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don; |
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June 18, 2018 |
Sweden vs South Korea, Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod; |
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June 23, 2018 |
Germany vs Sweden, Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi; |
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South Korea vs Mexico, Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don; |
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June 27, 2018 |
South Korea vs Germany, Kazan Arena, Kazan; |
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Mexico vs Sweden, Central Stadium, Ekaterinburg; |
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Group G |
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June 18, 2018 |
Belgium vs Panama, Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi; |
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Tunisia vs England, Volgograd Arena, Volgograd; |
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June 23, 2018 |
Belgium vs Tunisia, Spartak Stadium, Moscow; |
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June 24, 2018 |
England vs Panama, Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod; |
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South Korea vs Mexico, Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don; |
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June 28, 2018 |
England vs Belgium, Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad; |
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Panama vs Tunisia, Mordovia Arena, Saransk; |
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Group H |
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June 19, 2018 |
Poland vs Senegal, Spartak Stadium, Moscow; |
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Colombia vs Japan, Mordovia Arena, Saransk; |
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June 24, 2018 |
Japan vs Senegal, Central Stadium, Ekaterinburg; |
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Poland vs Colombia, Kazan Arena, Kazan; |
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June 28, 2018 |
Japan vs Poland, Volgograd Arena, Volgograd; |
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Senegal vs Colombia, Cosmos Arena, Samara; |
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Knockout Stages Last 16 |
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June 30, 2018 |
Winner Group C vs Runner-up Group D, Kazan Arena, Kazan; |
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Winner Group A vs Runner-up Group B, Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi; |
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July 1, 2018 |
Winner Group B vs Runner-up Group A, Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow; |
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Winner Group D vs Runner-up Group C, Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod; |
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July 2, 2018 |
Winner Group E vs Runner-up Group F, Cosmos Arena, Samara; |
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Winner Group G vs Runner-up Group H, Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don; |
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July 3, 2018 |
Winner Group F vs Runner-up Group E, Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg; |
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Winner Group H vs Runner-up Group G, Otkrytiye Arena, Moscow; |
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