Football fans from Rostov-on-Don have already witnessed matches of the highest level. The local Rostov hosted the teams of Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and PSV in the UEFA Champions League. In 2018, Rostovites will witness an even larger international tournament - the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
According to the calendar of the upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup, Rostov-on-Don will host five World Cup matches, four of which will be held in the group stage and one in the playoff series.
One of the main contenders for gold medals will play in the opening match of the football championship in the new arena in Rostov. The five-time world champions, the Brazilians, will face the Swiss national team in their first game in Group E. This meeting is scheduled for June 17th.
Rostovites and numerous guests of the city will be able to see the face-to-face confrontation of the rivals of the Russian national team in Group A. Within the second round from this quartet, on June 20, Uruguay will play with Saudi Arabia.
On June 23, Rostov-on-Don will host football players from Mexico and South Korea. The confrontation between the two teams will have a significant impact on the chances of reaching the playoff stage. This game is scheduled for the second round of Group F.
Two years ago, the Icelandic national team pleasantly surprised the entire football world. This team successfully performed at UEFA EURO 2016, reaching the quarter-finals stage. It should be assumed that the leadership of the Icelandic Football Federation will set high goals for the players for the upcoming world championship. However, the level of rivals at the 2018 World Cup will be slightly higher. So, in their final match at the group stage, the Icelanders will play with the Croatian team (group D). The game will take place in Rostov-on-Don on June 26th.
The last match in Rostov will be held as part of the 1/8 finals of the 2018 World Cup. The winner of Group G will compete for the right to advance to the next stage with the second team of Quartet N. This meeting will take place on July 2.
The schedule of matches of the group stage in Rostov-on-Don is presented below.
