After eight years of planning and billions of dollars in spending, the 2018 World Cup kicks off Thursday, and more than the competing teams have a lot riding on the outcome.
For Russian President Vladimir Putin, inviting the world is seen as a way to boost his country’s prestige and push back against its global isolation. For FIFA President Gianni Infantino, a successful and lucrative tournament could help move global soccer’s governing body beyond the scandals and infighting that led to Sepp Blatter’s ouster and Infantino’s election 2 ½ years ago.
“The World Cup has this unique faculty of being able to change the perception people have about a place, about a country,” Infantino said.