The FIFA World Cup 2018 was the 21st edition of the quadrennial international football tournament, held in Russia from June 14 to July 15, 2018. It was the first World Cup to be held in Eastern Europe and the 11th time it was held in Europe.
Participants
32 teams participated in the tournament, representing their respective countries. The teams were divided into eight groups of four teams each, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout stage.
Format
The format of the tournament consisted of a group stage followed by a knockout stage. In the group stage, teams played three matches against the other teams in their group. The top two teams from each group advanced to the knockout stage, which was played in a single-elimination format. The winner of each knockout match advanced to the next round, with the tournament culminating in the final match to determine the champion.
Matches
The tournament featured a total of 64 matches, played in 11 host cities across Russia. The opening match was played between Russia and Saudi Arabia, with the final match featuring France and Croatia.
Goalscorers
The Golden Boot award for the top scorer of the tournament went to England’s Harry Kane, who scored six goals in the tournament. Other notable goalscorers included Romelu Lukaku of Belgium and Antoine Griezmann of France, who each scored four goals.
Winner
The 2018 FIFA World Cup was won by France, who defeated Croatia 4-2 in the final. It was France’s second World Cup victory, with their first coming in 1998.
Legacy
The 2018 World Cup was widely regarded as a successful tournament, with many praising the organization and facilities provided by the host country. It was also notable for the introduction of Video Assistant Referees (VAR) in World Cup matches for the first time.
Controversy
The tournament was not without controversy, with several incidents drawing criticism from fans and media. One of the most notable incidents involved the use of VAR, with some arguing that it was used inconsistently and led to controversial decisions. There were also concerns over the treatment of LGBT fans in Russia, with reports of discrimination and violence against them during the tournament.
