First FIFA World Cup 2018 match kick-off tonight. Host country Russia and Saudi Arabia playing the first match at 3:30 PM (BST) on Thursday, June 14. The Russia vs Saudi Arabia Football match will immediately follow the opening ceremony, which is taking place in the Luzhniki Stadium Moscow. Robbie Williams from England will have representation in the opening ceremony. The theme of the opening ceremony in the form of the 90s pop icon.
Up to 500 dancers, gymnasts and trampolinists will also be performing in an opening ceremony with Robbie Williams. ITV begin their build-up to the first match from 2:30 PM.
FIFA World Cup 2018: Russia vs Saudi Arabia Match Players Squad, Time
Russia final 23-man squad
- Coach: Stanislav Cherchesov
- Star player: Fyodor Smolov
- World Cup best: First round 1994, 2002, 2014 (the Soviet Union finished fourth in 1966)
Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow), Vladimir Gabulov (Club Brugge), Andrey Lunev (Zenit St Petersburg);
Defenders: Vladimir Granat, Ruslan Kambolov, Fedor Kudryashov (all Rubin Kazan), Ilya Kutepov (Spartak Moscow), Andrey Semenov (Akhmat Grozny), Igor Smolnikov (Zenit St Petersburg), Mario Fernandes (CSKA Moscow);
Midfielders: Yuri Gazinskiy (Krasnodar), Alexsandr Golovin, Alan Dzagoev (both CSKA Moscow), Yuri Zhirkov, Daler Kuzyaev (all Zenit St Petersburg), Roman Zobnin, Alexsandr Samedov (both Spartak Moscow), Anton Miranchuk (Lokomotiv Moscow), Denis Cheryshev (Villarreal);
Forwards: Artem Dzyuba (Arsenal Tula), Aleksey Miranchuk (Lokomotiv Moscow), Fedor Smolov (Krasnodar).
Saudi Arabia final 23-man squad
- Coach: Juan Antonio Pizzi
- Star player: Mohammad Al-Sahlawi
- World Cup best: Second round 1994
Goalkeepers: Mohammed Al Owais (Al Ahli), Yasser Al Mosailem (Al Ahli), Abdullah Al Mayouf (Al Hilal).
Defenders: Mansoor Al Harbi (Al Ahli), Yasser Al Shahrani (Al Hilal) Mohammed Al Breik (Al Hilal), Motaz Hawsawi (Al Ahli), Osama Hawsawi (Al Hilal), Omar Hawsawi (Al Nassr), Ali Al Bulaihi (Al Hilal).
Midfielders: Abdullah Al Khaibari (Al Shabab), Abdulmalek Al Khaibri (Al Hilal), Abdullah Otayf (Al Hilal), Taiseer Al Jassim (Al Ahli), Houssain Al Mogahwi (Al Ahli), Salman Al Faraj, Mohamed Kanno (both Al Hilal), Hattan Bahebri (Al Shabab), Salem Al Dawsari (Al Hilal), Yahya Al Shehri (Al Nassr), Fahad Al Muwallad (Al Ittihad).
Forwards: Mohammad Al Sahlawi (Al Nassr), Muhannad Assiri (Al Ahli).
