World Cup: When does Russia 2018 start? When are the fixtures? What channel are games on?

The celebration of football will see 32 teams go head-to-head to be crowned world champions on Sunday July 15.

The 21st World Cup takes place in Russia in 11 cities and 12 stadiums spread over 1,800 miles.

There will be 64 games over the 32 days and we can expect moments of inspiration, individual brilliance, calamitous mistakes, overpowering joy and plenty of heartbreak.

And it all gets started today with Robbie Williams topping the bill at the Opening Ceremony before the first match.

The two lowest ranked sides in Russia and Saudi Arabia kick it off in Moscow at the Luzhniki Stadium.

Germany are the defending champions and open their campaign on Sunday against Mexico.

While Brazil, France, Argentina and Spain make up the favourites for glory along with the Germans.

The biggest story so far is Spain sacking manager Julen Lopetegui yesterday after it was announced he would become the next Real Madrid manager.

Rather than letting him see out the competition Spain opted to sack him and have appointed Fernando Hierro as his successor.

England have begun their training camp in Repino without injured Marcus Rashford, who missed training again today.

They start their campaign on Monday night when they face Tunisia.

World Cup fixtures

14 June

Russia v Saudi Arabia, 4pm ITV

15 June

Egypt v Uruguay, 1pm BBC

Morocco v Iran, 4pm ITV

Portugal v Spain, 7pm BBC

16 June

France v Australia, 11am BBC

Argentina v Iceland, 2pm ITV

Peru v Denmark, 5pm BBC

Croatia v Nigeria, 8pm ITV

17 June

Costa Rica v Serbia, 1pm ITV

Germany v Mexico, 4pm BBC

Brazil v Switzerland, 7pm ITV

18 June

Sweden v South Korea, 1pm ITV

Belgium v Panama, 4pm BBC

Tunisia v England, 7pm BBC

19 June

Colombia v Japan, 1pm BBC

Poland v Senegal, 4pm ITV

Russia v Egypt, 7pm BBC

20 June

Portugal v Morocco, 1pm BBC

Uruguay v Saudi Arabia, 4pm BBC

Iran v Spain, 7pm ITV

21 June

Denmark v Australia, 1pm ITV

France v Peru, 4pm ITV

Argentina v Croatia, 7pm BBC

22 June

Brazil v Costa Rica, 1pm ITV

Nigeria v Iceland, 4pm BBC

Serbia v Switzerland, 7pm BBC

23 June

Belgium v Tunisia, 1pm BBC

South Korea v Mexico, 4pm ITV

Germany v Sweden, 7pm ITV

24 June

England v Panama, 1pm BBC

Japan v Senegal, 4pm BBC

Poland v Colombia, 7pm ITV

25 June

Uruguay v Russia, 3pm ITV

Saudi Arabia v Egypt, 3pm ITV

Spain v Morocco, 7pm BBC

Iran v Portugal, 7pm BBC

26 June

Denmark v France, 3pm ITV

Australia v Peru, 3pm ITV

Iceland v Croatia, 7pm BBC

Argentina v Nigeria, 7pm BBC

27 June

South Korea v Germany, 3pm BBC

Mexico v Sweden, 3pm BBC

Serbia v Brazil, 7pm ITV

Switzerland v Costa Rica, 7pm ITV

28 June

Senegal v Colombia, 3pm BBC

Japan v Poland, 3pm BBC

England v Belgium, 7pm ITV

Panama v Tunisia, 7pm ITV

World Cup knockout fixtures

Last 16

30 June

Winner Group C v Runner-up Group D, 3pm

Winner Group A v Runner-up Group B, 7pm

1 July

Winner Group B v Runner-up Group A, 3pm

Winner Group D v Runner-up Group C, 7pm

2 July

Winner Group E v Runner-up Group F, 3pm

Winner Group G v Runner-up GroupH, 7pm

3 July

Winner Group F v Runner-up Group E, 3pm

Winner Group H v Runner-up Group G, 7pm

Quarter-finals

6 July

Quarter-final 1, 3pm

Quarter-final 2, 7pm

7 July

Quarter-final 3, 3pm

Quarter-final 4, 7pm

Semi-finals

Semi-final 1, 7pm ITV

11 July

Semi-final 2, 7pm BBC

Third-placed play-off

14 July

Third-place play-off, 3pm ITV

World Cup final

Sunday 15th July

Final, 4pm live on BBC and ITV

World Cup Golden Ball odds

8/1

Neymar

10/1

Lionel Messi

12/1

Antoine Griezmann

14/1

Cristiano Ronaldo

16/1

Eden Hazard

18/1

Gabriel Jesus

20/1

Kevin De Bruyne

20/1

Harry Kane

25/1

Thomas Muller

25/1

David Silva

25/1

Isco

25/1

Paul Pogba

28/1

Philippe Coutinho

33/1

Kylian Mbappe

33/1

Romelu Lukaku

33/1

Luis Suarez

40/1

Mohamed Salah

40/1

Toni Kroos

66/1

Marco Reus

66/1

Raheem Sterling

66/1

Sergio Ramos

80/1

Jesse Lingard

100/1

Joshua Kimmich

100/1

Jordan Henderson

250/1

Phil Jones

250/1

Jack Butland

250/1

Danny Welbeck

Golden Boot winner odds

8/1

Neymar

10/1

Antoine Griezmann

11/1

Lionel Messi

14/1

Timo Werner

16/1

Gabriel Jesus

16/1

Romelu Lukaku

16/1

Harry Kane

18/1

Cristiano Ronaldo

22/1

Diego Costa

22/1

Edinson Cavani

25/1

Thomas Muller

25/1

Luis Suarez

28/1

Kylian Mbappe

30/1

Robert Lewandowski

33/1

Sergio Aguero

40/1

Gonzalo Higuain

40/1

Eden Hazard

45/1

Isco

50/1

Philippe Coutinho

50/1

Radamel Falcao

50/1

Olivier Giroud

66/1

Marco Reus

66/1

James Rodriguez

66/1

Dries Mertens

66/1

Iago Aspas

66/1

Roberto Firmino

66/1

David Silva

80/1

Mario Mandzukic

80/1

Fyodor Smolov

80/1

Rodrigo Moreno

80/1

Mohamed Salah

100/1

Paulo Dybala

100/1

Raheem Sterling

100/1

Sadio Mane

100/1

Delli Alli

100/1

Andre Silva

100/1

Christian Eriksen

100/1

Luka Modric

100/1

Marcus Rashford

100/1

Ousmane Dembele

125/1

Kevin De Bruyne

125/1

Jamie Vardy

125/1

Paulinho

125/1

Michy Batshuayi

125/1

Jose Paulo Guerrero

125/1

Mario Gomez

125/1

Aleksandr Mitrovic

125/1

Angel Di Maria

125/1

Ezequiel Lavezzi

125/1

Ivan Perisic

125/1

Arkadiusz Milik

125/1

Javier Hernandez

125/1

Aleksandr Bukharov

125/1

Marco Asensio

150/1

Leon Goretzka

150/1

Mesut Ozil

150/1

Jesse Lingard

150/1

Carlos Bacca

150/1

Paul Pogba

150/1

Hirving Lozano

150/1

Nabil Fekir

200/1

Alireza Jahanbakhsh

200/1

Sergio Ramos

200/1

Edwin Cardona

200/1

Giorgian De Arrascaeta

200/1

Keisuke Honda

200/1

Yannick Carrasco

200/1

Son Heungmin

250/1

Douglas Costa

250/1

Tim Cahill