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2018 World Cup in Russia

How to watch, whom to watch for, and the biggest news from the highly anticipated tournament.

Contributors: Vox Staff

The 2018 FIFA World Cup officially begins on June 14.

The world’s best teams and players — including Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina’s Lionel Messi — will descend on Russia to play on soccer’s biggest stage. It’s a tournament where legends are born, hearts are broken, and, when all is said and done, one team is crowned the World Cup champion: the pinnacle of the world’s most popular sport.

At least half the world will tune in, even if most Americans won’t — in part because the US didn’t qualify for this year’s tournament. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth watching.

19 Total Updates Since
Jun 8, 2018, 2:50pm EDT
  • July 15, 2018

    Pussy Riot says it’s behind the World Cup protesters

    By Emily Stewart

    One of the field invaders got a high-five out of Mbappe.

  • July 15, 2018

    Why soccer teams that go first in shootouts usually win

    By Umair Irfan

    The agony and ecstasy of a soccer penalty kick, explained with behavioral economics.

  • July 15, 2018

    Why soccer players take dives

    By Umair Irfan

    Lots of athletes fake falls and injuries. But soccer stars have honed the art.

  • July 11, 2018

    How to watch the World Cup final between France and Croatia

    By Alex Ward

    Will you be among the billions watching?

  • July 11, 2018

    9 questions about the World Cup you were too embarrassed to ask

    By Alex Ward

    How does the World Cup work? Who will win? And what’s the official song?

  • July 10, 2018

    France produces the most World Cup players. Here’s why.

    By Mac Schneider and Sam Ellis

    French-born players are competing for national teams from Europe, Africa, and South America.

  • July 7, 2018

    How to watch the World Cup quarterfinals

    By Alex Ward

    The tournament’s final eight teams battle for soccer immortality.

  • July 3, 2018

    Here’s how to watch the World Cup’s round of 16

    By Alex Ward

    The World Cup’s most exciting part — the knockout stages — finally begins.

  • June 28, 2018

    How and when to watch the World Cup group stage

    By Alex Ward

    Your guide to the 2018 FIFA World Cup’s first round.

  • June 27, 2018

    Watch Mexico fans celebrate South Korea after a World Cup miracle

    By Alex Ward

    Here’s your feel-good story of the day.

  • June 27, 2018

    Israel’s leader uses the World Cup to advocate for revolution in Iran

    By Alex Ward

    "You showed courage on the playing field, and today you showed the same courage in the streets of Iran."

  • June 21, 2018

    Iranian women watched the World Cup in a stadium for the first time in nearly 40 years

    By Madeleine Ngo

    But the ban restricting women from attending men’s sporting events is still officially intact.

  • June 20, 2018

    Japanese World Cup fans cleaned up the stadium after they won. Now others are doing it.

    By Alex Ward

    Maybe the world isn’t so bad after all.

  • June 19, 2018

    Mo Salah, the World Cup’s “Egyptian King,” explained

    By Julie Bogen

    Mo Salah will make you care about soccer.

  • June 18, 2018

    This World Cup, let’s talk about Russia’s LGBTIQ rights record

    By Yelena Goltsman

    First Russia, next Qatar. FIFA is showing their true colors on standing for LGBTIQ rights.

  • June 15, 2018

    How to really watch the World Cup

    By Laurent Dubois

    A trip inside the memory palace of the beautiful game.

  • June 14, 2018

    As Saudi Arabia played at the World Cup, the country launched a massive attack on Yemen

    By Alexia Underwood

    It’s the second day of an assault on the port city of Hodeidah.

  • June 14, 2018

    13 players to watch at the 2018 World Cup

    By Alex Ward

    Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar, Salah, and many more.

  • June 8, 2018

    Stanley Cup champion Ovechkin could attend the World Cup in Russia

    By Alex Ward

    He’s very, very pro-Putin.