Robbie Williams gets in on World Cup kick-off

MOSCOW: British pop star Robbie Williams might seem like the unlikeliest person to kick off the World Cup but, along with Russian soprano Aida Garifullina, the two artists will perform at the opening ceremony on Thursday.

Moments before Russia and Saudi Arabia get the 2018 Fifa World Cup under way, they will entertain the fans in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.

The football glory that all players hope to achieve on Russian soil will be represented by Brazil’s two-time World Cup champion Ronaldo.

“I’m so happy and excited to be going back to Russia for such a unique performance,” said Williams, pictured.

“I’ve done a lot in my career, and opening the World Cup to 80 000 football fans in the stadium and many millions all over the world is a boyhood dream.

“We’d like to invite football and music fans to party with us in Russia, in the stadium, or to tune in their TVs a little earlier for an unforgettable show.”

The World Cup opening ceremony will have a slightly different format compared with previous editions of the tournament.

This time, the ceremony will focus on musical acts and will take place much closer to kickoff, just half an hour before the start of the match.

One thing will remain the same, however: the underlying theme of celebrating not only football but also the host country, this time with a touching performance by one of Russia’s most acclaimed young voices in Garifullina.

“I never imagined I would be part of this huge celebration, the World Cup, happening in my own country,” said the soloist.