Stars sing up cup start

JUST a few moments before Russia and Saudi Arabia kick off the 2018 Fifa World Cup, three international stars will thrill the fans in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.

Global music icon Robbie Williams will entertain the stadium crowd and the millions watching around the world, with celebrated Russian soprano Aida Garifullina joining him during the musical extravaganza.

The football glory that all players will be hoping to achieve on Russian soil will be represented by Brazil’s twotime Fifa World Cup champion Ronaldo.

“I’m so happy and excited to be going back to Russia for such a unique performance. I’ve done a lot in my career, and opening the Fifa World Cup to 80 000 football fans in the stadium and millions all over the world is a boyhood dream,” says Robbie Williams.

“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 2018 Fifa 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, Garifullina.

The opening match is always a symbolic one – it is that instant when you realise that the big moment you, as a player or fan, have been anticipating for four years has finally arrived.

No one knows what will happen in the four weeks of the tournament, but everyone is sure that it will be memorable.

Of course it is also an emotional time for the hosts. After so much hard work, suddenly the whole world is gathered in your back yard to celebrate their love for football.