New Delhi:
The biggest football event – FIFA World Cup is all set to begin from June 14 in Russia. The 21st edition of the mega event is coming back to Europe after a long gap of 12 years, Germany hosted it back in 2006.
32 teams will lock horns over a period of one month to get their hands on the biggest glory in world football.
In 2014, Brazil hosted the footballing extravaganza as Germany became the World Champion by crushing the hopes of millions of Argentina fans by winning 1-0 in the finals. German midfielder Mario Gotze netted the winning goal in the extra time.
Major teams like Brazil, Germany, Argentina, France and Spain look the favourites to win the tournament, with the one-month long event with a total of 64 matches, set to start from June 14.
All the 32 teams are divided into eight groups and each group will consist of four teams each. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Round of 16.
Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay
Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran
Group C: France, Australia, Peru, Denmark
Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria
Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia
Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea
Group G: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England
Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan
June 14/6/2018, Thursday
Russia vs Saudi Arabia (8:30pm)
June 15/6/2018, Friday
Egypt vs Uruguay (5:30pm)
Morocco vs Iran (8:30pm)
Portugal vs Spain (11:30pm)
June 16/6/2018, Saturday
France vs Australia (3:30pm)
Argentina vs Iceland (6:30pm)
Peru vs Denmark (9:30pm)
Croatia vs Nigeria (5:30pm)
June 17/6/2018, Sunday
Costa Rica vs Serbia (12:30am)
Germany vs Mexico (8:30pm)
Brazil vs Switzerland (11:30pm)
June 18/6/2018, Monday
Sweden vs South Korea (5:30pm_
Belgium vs Panama (8:30pm)
Tunisia vs England (11:30pm)
June 19/6/2018, Tuesday
Poland vs Senegal (5:30pm)
Colombia vs Japan (8:30pm)
Russia vs Egypt (11:30pm)
June 20/6/2018, Wednesday
Portugal vs Morocco (5:30pm)
Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia (8:30pm)
Iran vs Spain (11:30pm)
June 21/6/2018, Thursday
France vs Peru (5:30pm)
Denmark vs Australia (4:30pm)
Argentina vs Croatia (11:30pm)
June 22/6/2018, Friday
Brazil vs Costa Rica (5:30pm)
Nigeria vs Iceland (8:30pm)
Serbia vs Switzerland (4:30pm)
June 23/6/2018, Saturday
Belgium vs Tunisia (5:30pm)
Germany vs Sweden (8:30pm)
South Korea vs Mexico (11:30pm)
June 24/6/2018, Sunday
England vs Panama (5:30pm)
Japan vs Senegal (8:30pm)
Poland vs Colombia (11:30pm)
June 25/6/2018, Monday
Saudi Arabia vs Egypt (7:30pm)
Uruguay vs Russia (8:30pm)
Iran vs Portugal (11:30pm)
Spain vs Morocco (10:30pm)
June 26/6/2018, Tuesday
Australia vs Peru (7:30pm)
Denmark vs France (7:30pm)
Nigeria vs Argentina (11:30pm)
Iceland vs Croatia (11:30pm)
June 27/6/2018, Wednesday
South Korea vs Germany (7:30pm)
Mexico vs Sweden (7:30pm)
Serbia vs Brazil (11:30pm)
Switzerland vs Costa Rica (11:30pm)
June 28/6/2018, Thursday
Japan vs Poland (7:30pm)
Senegal vs Colombia (7:30pm)
Panama vs Tunisia (11:30pm)
England vs Belgium (10:30pm)
Round of 16:
June 30/6/2018, Saturday
Group C winners vs Group D runners-up (7:30pm)
Group A winners vs Group B runners-up (11:30pm)
July 1/7/2018, Sunday
Group B winners vs Group A runners-up (7:30pm)
Group D winners vs Group C runners-up (11:30pm)
July 2/7/2018, Monday
Group E winners vs Group F runners-up (12:30am)
Group G winners vs Group H runners-up (11:30pm)
Group F winners vs Group E runners-up (7:30pm)
Group H winners vs Group G runners-up (11:30pm)
Quarterfinals:
July 6/7/2018, Friday
QF1: Winner (Group C winner vs Group D runners-up) vs Winner (Group A winners vs Group B runners-up) (7:30pm)
QF2: Winner (Group E winners vs Group F runners-up) vs Winner (Group G winners vs Group H runners-up) (11:30pm)
July 7/7/2018, Saturday
QF3: Winner (Group F winners vs Group E runners-up) vs Winner (Group H winners vs Group G runners-up) (11:30pm)
QF4: Winner (Group B winners vs Group A runners-up) vs Winner (Group D winners vs Group C runners-up) (12:00am)
Semi-finals:
July 10/7/2018, Tuesday
Quarter-final 1 vs Quarter-final 2 (11:30pm)
July 11/7/2018, Wednesday
Quarter-final 3 vs Quarter-final 4 (11:30pm)
Third place playoff:
July 14/7/2018, Saturday
Loser of semi-final 1 vs Loser of semi-final 2
Final:
July 15/7/2018, Sunday
Winner of Semi-final 1 vs Winner of Semi-final 2 (8:30pm)
