FIFA World Cup 2018 Offbeat
Soaked but smiling, Croatian president wins admirers at WC final
Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic wins many admirers for own performance at the World Cup final in Moscow, where she stands in driving rain at the closing ceremony, smiles and hugs every player from both teams.
Paris subway changes names to honour WC champs
France's soccer coach will have a subway train station named after him to celebrate his World Cup win and poet Victor Hugo will have to share his memorial slot on Paris's transport map with the team's goalkeeper and captain.
Russia targeted by almost '25 million cyber-attacks' during WC: Putin
Russia was the target of almost 25 million cyber-attacks during the World Cup, President Vladimir Putin says, though he did not indicate who may have been behind the attacks.
Trump congratulates Putin on hosting the WC
President Donald Trump tweets Sunday to congratulate the winning team, President Vladimir Putin, and Russia after the World Cup final, which he calls "one of the best ever!"
Croatian leader hands Putin soccer shirt before WC final
Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic gave Russian President Vladimir Putin a Croatian soccer shirt with the name "Putin" printed on the back on Sunday, hours before Croatia play France in the World Cup final in Moscow.
Croatia the smallest nation to reach WC final since 1950
Croatia, a small east European nation with a population of just 4 million, become the smallest and lowest ranked team ever to reach a World Cup final.
Croatia cabinet meets in soccer team jerseys
Croatia's cabinet ministers held a session dressed in the red and white checkered jerseys of the national soccer team to celebrate the country's victory in a World Cup semi-final.
Paris celebrates France's march to the World Cup final
The French national anthem La Marseillaise, chants of "We're in the final" and a cacophony of car horns and fire crackers rings out over Paris as residents of the capital celebrates France's march to the World Cup final.
Russian women play football dressed as brides
A bunch of Russian women shows their love and adoration for the beautiful game by playing a friendly match dressed as brides.
Gangnam Style in Mexico City
South Korea’s win knock out defending champions Germany and helps Mexico to go through to the last 16. Hundreds of Mexican fans, delirious with delight, are seen flocking to the South Korean embassy in Mexico City.
Nigeria to send Messi and Argentina home, says Achilles
The omens do not look good for Argentina and Lionel Messi as the psychic cat Achilles predicts that Nigeria are going to send Argentina packing by defeating them in their last match of the group stage against the Albiceleste.
World Cup mascots from eggshells
World Cup swag takes a quirky turn in Vietnam where a retired schoolteacher is making mascot memorabilia from hollowed-out eggs, meticulously crafted by hand.
Brazil fans revel in Argentina loss
Brazil fans mock Lionel Messi and celebrate Argentina’s defeat as they sing `Messi Ciao’ (Goodbye Messi) in St. Petersburg.
Iran in U-turn on women in stadiums during World Cup
Tehran's largest football stadium is to admit thousands of women together with men for the first time since the the Islamic revolution of 1979 as World Cup fever grips Iran for its Wednesday evening group game against Spain.
Russians, foreigners seek love at World Cup
During an afternoon at a Moscow park, Argentina fan Augustin Otelo is counting not the number of goals his team has scored in the World Cup but the number of phone numbers he has collected from Russian girls as foreigners in Russia try to find love.
Mexico doesn't deserve WC 2026: Maradona
Former Argentine footballer Diego Maradona says he does not like the decision that Mexico, Canada and the United States will host the 2026 World Cup, decrying the lack of passion in the countries.
Russia's psychic cat predicts the winner of the opening match
Achilles, a deaf white cat who is the official animal soothsayer for the tournament, choose a bowl of food bearing the host's flag rather than that of Saudi Arabia, who Russia will face today's evening.
TV-less Argentine prisoners go on hunger strike
Inmates in an Argentine prison begin a hunger strike to press authorities to repair the cable TV system so they can watch the World Cup.
