2018 World Cup

In 2018 Russia hosted the 21st FIFA World Cup from 14 June to 15 July 2018 with France being crowned champions for the second time after beat Croatia 4-2 in the Final in Moscow.

 

 

To look at the schedule of games for the 2018 World Cup and the results click on the following

There was some continuity between the host Russia and the last host country, Brazil. For example, other than Russia, Brazil was the first country to qualify for the 2018 tournament. 20 of the teams that played in Brazil were among the 32 sides playing in Russia.

Those 32 teams and their FIFA ranking in October 2017, and how they performed in 2018 (and 2014 in Brazil) are:

  1. Argentina (4) – Knocked out in the round of 16. (Finalist – Runner-up in Brazil)
  2. Australia  (43) – Knocked out at the group stage. (Knocked out at the group stage in Brazil)
  3. Belgium (5) – Semi finalist – 3rd plac. (Quarter finalist in Brazil)
  4. Brazil (2) – Quarter finalist. (Semi finalist- 4th place in Brazil)
  5. Colombia (13) – Knocked out in the round of 16. (Quarter finalist in Brazil)
  6. Costa Rica (22) – Knocked out at the group stage. (Quarter finalist in Brazil)
  7. Croatia (18) – Finalist – Runner up (Knocked out at the group stage in Brazil)
  8. Denmark (19) – Knocked out in the round of 16. (Last played in the World Cup Finals in 2010)
  9. Egypt (30) – Knocked out at the group stage. (Last played in the World Cup Finals in 1990)
  10. England (12) –Semi Finalist – 4th place.  (Knocked out at the group stage in Brazil)
  11. France (7) – Finalist – 2018 World Champions (Quarter finalist in Brazil)
  12. Germany (1) – Knocked out at the group stage. (Finalist – 2014 World Champions in Brazil)
  13. Iceland (21) – Knocked out at the group stage. (First World Cup Finals appearance)
  14. Iran (31) – Knocked out at the group stage. (Knocked out at the group stage in Brazil)
  15. Japan (44) – Knocked out in the round of 16. (Knocked out at the group stage in Brazil)
  16. Korea Republic (62) – Knocked out at the group stage. (Knocked out at the group stage in Brazil)
  17. Mexico (16) – Knocked out in the round of 16. (Knocked out in the round of 16 in Brazil)
  18. Morocco (48) – Knocked out at the group stage. (Last played in the World Cup Finals in 2010)
  19. Nigeria (41) – Knocked out at the group stage. (Knocked out in the round of 16 in Brazil)
  20. Panama (49) – Knocked out at the group stage. (First World Cup Finals appearance)
  21. Peru (10) – Knocked out at the group stage. (Last played in the World Cup Finals in 1982)
  22. Poland (6) – Knocked out at the group stage. (Last played in the World Cup Finals in 2006)
  23. Portugal (3) – Knocked out in the round of 16. (Knocked out at the group stage in Brazil)
  24. Russia (65) – Quarter finalist. (Knocked out at the group stage in Brazil)
  25. Saudi Arabia (63) – Knocked out at the group stage. (Last played in the World Cup Finals in 2006)
  26. Senegal (32) – Knocked out at the group stage. (Last played in the World Cup Finals in 2002)
  27. Serbia (38) – Knocked out at the group stage. (Last played in the World Cup Finals in 2010)
  28. Spain (8) – Knocked out in the round of 16. (Knocked out at the group stage in Brazil)
  29. Sweden (25) – Quarter finalist. (Last played in the World Cup Finals in 2006)
  30. Switzerland (11) – Knocked out in the round of 16. (Knocked out in the round of 16 in Brazil)
  31. Tunisia (28) – Knocked out at the group stage. (Last played in the World Cup Finals in 2006)
  32. Uruguay (17) – Quarter finalist. (Knocked out in the round of 16 in Brazil)

The October 2017 edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking was used to allocate all qualified teams to the four pots according to their ranking in descending order, after hosts Russia, who took the top seeding spot.

The pots were:

POT 1 POT 2 POT 3 POT 4
Russia Spain Denmark Serbia
Germany Peru Iceland Nigeria
Brazil Switzerland Costa Rica Australia
Portugal England Sweden Japan
Argentina Colombia Tunisia Morocco
Belgium Mexico Egypt Panama
Poland Uruguay Senegal Korea Republic
France Croatia Iran Saudi Arabia

No teams from the same confederation, with the exception of UEFA, which could have up to two teams in the same group, could be drawn into the same group.

The result of the draw was:

The World Cup Trophy visited 51 countries in 2018, as well as at least 16 cities in Russia, prior to the start of the tournament.

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