The 21st FIFA World Cup, which has ended in Russia, is considered by many experts to be the most successful in history, unforgettable both for the exciting games and the cheerful mood of the host cities. After the grand final, the World Cup has a new owner.
Setting a new standard for football
The Football World Cup is arguably one of the biggest events on the planet, and few other carnivals attract such intense media and public attention.
In Russia, guests watching the World Cup experience first-class games while also fully experiencing the cultural and festive atmosphere.
The organizers have lived up to expectations, and legendary players, sports officials and ordinary fans alike have marveled at the World Cup. In recent years, the political tension that has enveloped Russia has been replaced by an atmosphere of sporting pomp.
Russia's goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev uses his leg to block a shot during the 2018 World Cup 1/8 final between Russia and Spain.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said: "I can feel a special energy in the air here. This World Cup has been an incredible success. All the cities are beautiful and all the stadiums are great. The World Cup in Russia has really set a new standard for how football can be held."
Legendary Brazilian footballer Cafu agreed with the most important man in football. The 2002 world champion said: "This World Cup has completely changed the image of Russia. I have not seen such honest and kind people in a long time."
Many unpredictable miracles
In recent years, as one of the most important football events, the World Cup has inevitably become a bit "boring". Due to the high pressure and responsibility, many teams tend to play very cautiously, resulting in some games boring, but also lose the appeal of fans.
The 2018 World Cup broke that trend. The audience in Russia saw many unpredictable miracles, a huge number of goals made for a truly wonderful game. This was demonstrated by the fact that only one of the 64 matches ended in a 0-0 draw.
Almost every game was decided in one go, and many were decided in the last few minutes. The biggest point of view of this World Cup is that there are frequent surprises and dark horses - Germany, Spain, Argentina have been knocked out early, and the strong performance of Russia and Croatia has unexpectedly increased the point of view.
From the point of view of referees, the just concluded Russian World Cup also has a lot of scientific and technological innovation practices. The introduction of the video assistant referee system (VAR) has prevented some of the game-changing errors that have plagued previous World Cups.
Referees at this World Cup are using VAR for the first time.
A carnival atmosphere permeated the streets
Contrary to many negative predictions, the Russian government is very well organized when it comes to providing logistics and entertainment for its guests. Fans have little trouble getting around Russia or communicating with local residents.
Reports on the streets of Russian cities were filled with words such as "warm", "hospitable" and "festive". People from all over the world can see that Russia is indeed full of relaxed atmosphere.
Nikelskaya Street became the center of World Cup revelry.
This informal fan zone is several times more lively than the dedicated fan zone. Social media sites were also filled with glowing reviews of the restaurants and bars in Russian cities, with the World Cup host's thriving entertainment industry a surprise to many.
At the same time, fans can take intercity and suburban public transport for free with admission identification documents (fan cards), which is also a big point for the host.
