Who will win World Cup 2018? Vote for your champion!

Emily Willson

Who will win World Cup 2018? Vote for your champion! image

World Cup 2018 kicks off imminently in Russia on Thursday June 14, with the final coming a month later on Sunday July 15, 2018. Thirty-two teams are vying for a place in history at football's most prestigious tournament this summer.

Seven former World Cup winners will be competing: Brazil, Germany, Argentina, Uruguay, France, England and Spain. The only team to have won the finals before are four-time champions Italy, who failed to qualify from UEFA's play-offs after finishing behind Spain in their group.

The tournament will be played across 11 cities in 12 stadiums and the opening game takes place at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow between hosts Russia and Saudi Arabia on the June 14.

Stars forwards such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for Portugal and Argentina respectively. Portugal will hope to emulate their heroics at Euro 2016, which they won against the odds, while Argentina will be desperate to go one better than their runner-up finish four years ago.

 

Other favourites include five-time champions Brazil and the 2014 winners Germany. Spain conquered the tournament eight years ago in South Africa, while France were unlucky not to triumph on home soil at the last European Championships and arguably have the most talented squad since the start of the millennium.

There are two World Cup finals debutants this summer, Iceland and Panama, with the former faced with overcoming tournament regulars Argentina, Croatia and Nigeria, and the latter hoping to cause a major upset in Group G with Belgium, England and Tunisia.

The final for this year's tournament will take place at the Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow on July 15, with the winner not only lifting the trophy but also qualifying for the 2021 Confederations Cup in Qatar. 

Let us know who YOU think will win Russia 2018 in the above poll or, if you're backing a rank outsider, tell us in the comment section!

Emily Willson