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.
Belgium TV interviews Hazard hologram
Belgium superstar Eden Hazard gives a post-match interview via hologram to a Belgium channel La Une from the dressing room just after their 2-1 win over Brazil in the quarter-final of the World Cup 2018.
‘It’s coming home’, Timberlake joins England WC fever
The pop megastar Justin Timberlake shows his support for the England team during a concert as the Three Lions prepare themselves for a feisty encounter against Croatia in the semi-final of the FIFA World Cup 2018.
The pope’s message to Brazilians: It will happen another time
Pope Francis, who is Argentinean, consoles Brazil football fans after the team’s World Cup exit. He tries to cheer them up in Saint Peter's Square during his traditional Sunday blessing at the Vatican in Rome, Italy.
From caviar to veal tongue, fans get true taste of Russia
Many soccer fans know little or nothing about Russian cuisine before the World Cup, but have tucked into local gastronomy with relish, trying everything from luxurious caviar to staples like veal tongue.
German players stayed up late playing online games
Defending champions Germany exited the 2018 World Cup after they lost two of their three matches and it came as a shock to the whole world to see a team of Germany’s calibre not making it past the Group stages.
Kyle Walker posts hilarious Harry Maguire tweet after England win
England right-back Kyle Walker could not help but poke fun at teammate Harry Maguire after his goal helped England get to the semi-final of the World Cup.
Hotdog-munching trio in Russian garb unlikely stars of WC
It was the eleventh minute of extra time in Russia's tense victory over Spain when the unlikely stars of the show emerged: three Russia fans shown on national TV snacking on hotdogs in the stands.
Wedding guests face tough World Cup choice
World Cup fever in England will not extend to weddings round the country with those tempted to glance at their mobile phones during the match with Sweden facing a red card.
Egg throwers on Korean national team to go unpunished
The Korea Football Association (KFA) decides not to pursue charges against people who threw eggs at the national team after they arrived home from the World Cup, police says.
Bring on Brazil: World Cup fever grips disbelieving Russia
Russian fans dances in the streets of Kaliningrad on the Baltic and kissed strangers in Vladivostok in the Far East after their team defied all expectations to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.