World Cup Kickoff

After a four year absence, the 2018 FIFA World Cup will finally start on Thursday when host Russia squares off against Saudi Arabia to begin a month-long tournament, which will conclude on July 15 with the final. As an avid fan of the beautiful game, it’s my favorite sporting event.

I, and many others who fandom borders and even crosses into rabidity, will make every effort to watch as many games as possible, be it via television, computer, or handheld device.

FOX bid $425 million to air English-speaking broadcast rights – nearly four times the previous contract with ESPN – and Telemundo paid $600 million for the Spanish broadcast of the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, according to Bloomberg. This will be FOX’s first time to host the World Cup, and there is no doubt that without the U.S. team, which drew 16.5 million viewers in 2014 but failed to qualify for the first time since 1982, the casual fans who get caught up in the fun and patriotism of the Yanks’ run will diminish interest. But even without the stars and stripes, there will still be immense interest in the 2018 World Cup. Americans have bought more World Cup tickets than any other nation other than host Russia. So not only will American fans be there in person, there will be many American eyes watching broadcasts, too.

FOX and Fox Sports 1 will air 38 games live, the most ever for an English-language network, in fact, it’s more than the previous four World Cups combined. Additionally, all 64 ga.m.es will be live-streamed via Fox Sports Go and Fox Soccer Match Pass. The network’s coverage will include more than 350 hours of programming from a two-story studio complex based in Moscow’s Red Square. Two sets will feature a main anchor desk and an interview area for pregame, postgame, and late night shows, including World Cup Live, World Cup Today, and World Cup Tonight.

The tournament has two components; group play, in which eight groupings of four teams battle it out with the top two teams in each group advancing to the single-elimination knock-out round.

There are several storylines to capture fan’s attention, so expect large crowds at the city’s major soccer gathering places, including Finn McCool’s, Henry’s, The Bayou Beer Garden and the Deutsches Haus. If you go out, get there early.

FOX and FOX Sports 1 (FS1) has announced it will air the following matches in the group stage; all times CDT.

Odds on Favorites

Current odds on World Cup 2018 Winner via dabblebet, a United Kingdom-based soccer betting website.