Where is the 2018 World Cup?
By Ty Finch
The 2018 World Cup is just weeks away from beginning. Where is the biggest tournament in the world being held this year?
The location for each World Cup is an enormous deal for every country involved. Not only are there huge financial implications for the host nation (both good and bad) but there’s also a slew of stadiums that need building, areas of the country that need renovating and years of planning that have to happen before any team can start fighting for the coveted trophy.
Knowing all of this, one might think that when the announcement is finally made for the future site of the World Cup the soccer world is excited. Unfortunately, that’s not the case due to many factors, the most prominent being the level of corruption during the bid process. This particular bid was no different than the previous few or even the next couple will be.
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In any case, FIFA officials made their decision for Russia to host the 2018 World Cup in December of 2010. An initial nine countries bid on the rights but eventually, due to a litany of factors, four made the final cut: England, Russia, Portugal/Spain and Belgium/Netherlands.
Moscow, Sochi, Samara, Saint Petersburg, Kazan, Volgograd, Rostov-on-Don, Nizhny, Saransk, Kaliningrad and Yekaterinburg are the 11 cities in Russia that will host at least one match apiece come June. The first and final match of the World Cup will be played in Moscow. Russia face off against Saudi Arabia in the opener on June 14th and the final takes place on July 15. The third place play-off game is located in Saint Petersburg.
The 2022 World Cup will be held in Qatar, and the feeling is the subsequent tournament in 2026 will be a joint bid between the USA, Mexico and Canada.