For football fans, Christmas doesn't come once a year, it comes once every 4 years, when the World Cup takes place. In June 2018, the world's biggest international football event is back for its 21st edition, and there are sure to be some breathtaking matches to enjoy.
This year, the dates of the World Club stretch from 14th June to 15th July 2018 at a range of Russian cities, and there will be 64 matches to savour during that precious month, including at least 3 England fixtures (and hopefully more).
England will be among the favourites this year, having played well in qualifiers against Scotland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Lithuania. But they will have to beat teams like Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Spain and France if they are to prevail.
This HotUKDeals guide doesn't just introduce the tournament itself. The World Cup is also a major marketing event for all kinds of businesses, whether they release special tie-ins to coincide with the football, or schedule sales for fans to enjoy. Our listings are the place to head if you want to stay informed about the latest World Cup 2018 deals, and this guide will suggest a few possibilities for bargain hunters to explore.
In any case, let's kick things off by introducing the event itself.
The World Cup has taken place every 4 years since 1930, with the exception of the Second World War. In the 20 Finals we've seen since 1930, Brazil have triumphed a record 5 times (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2006), West Germany/Germany have won the cup 4 times (1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014), Italy have also won 4 times (1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006), Argentina have won twice (1978 and 1986), as have Uruguay (1930 and 1950), while the cup has been won once by England (1966), France (1998) and Spain (2010).
This time around, the World Cup Finals will split 32 teams into 8 groups of 4 (represented by the letters A-H). Each team plays their fellow group members once, and score 3 points for a win and 1 for a draw. The top 2 teams in every group then progresses to the “knockout stage”, with second placed teams playing those who top their group and vice versa.
After the knockout round (or “round of 16” as commentators will probably refer to it), teams then head to the Quarter Finals, the Semi Finals, and the 2018 Final itself. And don't forget the Third Place Play-Off, which takes place the day before the final.
Russia will be serving as the sole host for World Cup matches in 2018, and fixtures will be spread out across the nation's vast territory. There are 11 host cities in total, including:
Moscow – 2 Moscow venues will be used in the World Cup: Spartak Stadium and the Luzhniki Stadium, which will be staging the Final.
Saint Petersburg – The nation's second largest city's Krestovsky Stadium will host one of the Semi Finals, as well as the Third Place Play-Off and 4 group fixtures (but no England matches).
Sochi – The venue for the 2014 Winter Olympics opening ceremony has been converted into a 41,000 capacity stadium near the Black Sea, where it will host 4 group games and one of the Quarter Finals.
Samara – Known in the past as Kuybyshev, the country's sixth largest city is home to the Cosmos Arena, which will host 6 matches in total.
Kazan – The home of Ruben Kazan (the Kazan Arena) is famous for its massive external screen, so should attract big crowds to every match, both inside and out to its 6 fixtures.
Rostov-on-Don – The southern Russian city of Rostov will be hosting 5 matches during the World Cup, and could potentially be the venue for England's 2nd round match.
Volgograd – The functional Volgograd Arena will only be hosting 4 group matches at this World Cup, including England's match against Tunisia.
Nizhny Novgorod – The historic city of Novgorod will be a fascinating destination for supporters, including thousands of English fans who are heading to their team's fixture against Panama.
Saransk – One of the smallest cities to serve as a host, Saransk is located in the south of the country, on the Volga River. Its eye-catching Mordovia Arena will be a fitting venue for four group matches.
Yekaterinberg - The most eastern venue, Yekaterinburg's 35,000 capacity Central Stadium is actually more famous for its speed skating events than football, but that should change following 4 group games, including the visit of favorites France.
Kaliningrad – Situated in a small Russsian European enclave, Kaliningrad is the most accessible venue for English fans, which is handy as the Kaliningrad Stadium will welcome England and Belgium for their final group game.
If you haven't been lucky enough to secure tickets to watch the games in person, it could hardly be easier to catch World Cup 2018 on television or via online streaming.
As usual, the UK's two major terrestrial broadcasters (the BBC and ITV) will be sharing broadcasting duties, meaning that every single second of every World Cup game will be absolutely free to watch.
The BBC has secured two of England's 3 group games (against Panama and Tunisia), while ITV will be showing the Belgium match. If England get through, they will almost certainly be shown by ITV in the knockout round, followed by the BBC in the Quarter Finals.
As for the final, the broadcasters have an unusual arrangement where both screen the action, allowing you to choose which commentary team and style you prefer.
Both broadcasters have high-profile players lined up to provide analysis. On the BBC's side, Gary Lineker will be joined by Alan Shearer, Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand, while they will be joined by Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba, West Ham's Argentine full-back Pablo Zabaleta, and ex-Germany striker Jurgen Klinsmann.
Ryan Giggs will be a star addition to ITV's line-up along with Gary Neville and a variety of other ex-pros, while their host will be Mark Pougatch.
One thing worth bearing in mind is that the BBC will be offering 4K UHD and even VR content for viewers with the technology to take advantage of it. 4K will be available via the online iPlayer, the first time that a stream of this quality has been provided for a major international sporting event. So it could be time to invest in the tech needed to hook your laptop up to your Smart TV.
Aside from cables to connect computers and TVs, shoppers can expect a huge amount of deals from retailers of all kinds as World Cup 2018 kicks into gear. Here's a sample of the kind of bargains to look out for:
TVs – Major TV retailers know that the World Cup is a huge opportunity. Every 4 years, millions of people around the world realise that they need to upgrade to a bigger, higher resolution screen, and retailers tend to respond by slashing prices. This year, 4K models are in demand thanks to new broadcasting techniques (hence the appearance of Thierry Henry advertising oversized Samsung flatscreens). Keep an eye out for models from brands like Samsung, Hitachi, Phillips, Sony, Hisense, Acer, and Toshiba. Online and high street retailers are in on the action, including ao.com, Amazon, Argos and Tesco. In fact, Tesco have been running a “Football Festival” series of deals, including some serious TVs. So if you need to upgrade, it's a great time to do so.
Games Consoles – While the World Cup is a great chance for TV retailers, it's almost as important for the gaming sector. These days, when people watch stars like Messi or Neymar on the screen, they want to be able to emulate their heroes. And the best way to do so isn't by practising for hours on end in the garden – it's by turning on a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One X and hitting the pitch in FIFA 2018 or ISS. At HotUKDeals You'll find some excellent combination deals with Xbox One X or PlayStation 4 Pro consoles and the latest FIFA game, as well as deals for extra controllers. So why not invite mates over to watch a game, then extend the fun by switching over to your console when the matches are over?
Football Games – If you've already splashed out on a PS4 Pro or an Xbox One X, or you've upgraded your computer into a gaming powerhouse, why not add the latest footballing games to your collection? FIFA 18 has attracted plenty of positive press, and allows gamers to show off their skills in hyper-realistic online settings. And with Football Manager 2018, you could take the helm of a national side and – who knows? – achieve World Cup glory yourself.
Beer – Sports and beer are natural companions, and when the World Cup approaches, people tend to stock up on their favourite brews. Retailers know that this is a time of peak demand, and they often respond with massive reductions on popular brands like Carlsberg, Fosters, Carling and Budweiser. But expect a few craft ale bargains and deals for ciders like Magners or Strongbow as well. The best idea for serious football fans is to splash out on a few multipacks of their preferred tipple, which almost always saves cash compared to individual purchases. And always check the HotUKDeals beer listings. Retailers can increase prices as games approach as well as reducing them – so it pays to shop smart.
Football Kits – The modern game is almost as much about fashion as football – or at least it often seems that way. This year, we've seen a frenzy of excitement about Nigeria's latest kit, with buyers queuing around the block at London stores on the kit's release date. Almost every team has released a special 2018 kit, and they don't tend to come cheap – at face value. By shopping with HotUKDeals, you can show your allegiance and get the latest football looks at a fraction of those high street prices. With deals from major retailers like JD Sports, Sports Direct, Decathlon, MandM Direct, Tesco and even Amazon, big savings are just a click away.
Balls – FIFA never miss a marketing opportunity where footballs are concerned, and they produce a special edition model for every World Cup. This time around, the ball is an Adidas Telstar with stylish pixelated chevrons and a black and white look which harks back to the 1970 design. Ordinary fans can buy the ball in classic black and white, blue or green versions, and they all look the part. But don't settle for listed prices. It's a premium ball, but at the HotUKDeals football listings you can find it for less.
World Cup Merchandise – World Cups are famous for the merchandise that comes with them, from messily filled in wall charts and Panini sticker books to keyrings featuring the tournament mascot. 2018 will be absolutely no different. Stock up on extras like World Cup bunting, coffee mugs, t-shirts, action figures featuring heroes like Ronaldo or Harry Kane and much more besides. And look out for great kids' merchandise too. With products like World Cup colouring books available, everyone can share the fun.
Betting – Sports betting is part of the weekly ritual for millions of Brits, and part of the skill is finding the best deals for your accas or triples. When the World Cup rolls around, major betting companies like Sky Bet, Bet365 and Paddy Power will be sure to announce special odds and bonuses for their users (and new sign-ups), so stay tuned to avoid missing out.
If you're planning a party – or even parties – for the big event, there is a comprehensive overview megathread of the deals available.
Plus, we have a special World Cup competition going on with Kicktipp where you can win amazing prizes like a travel voucher or an iPhone. Everything you need to do is sharing your football expert knowledge or do the guessing game and predict the outcome of the upcoming games.
The World Cup has a rich history, and fans will need to do their research before the first game kicks off if they want to appreciate the importance of events on the pitch. So here's a quick primer for all fans as they prepare to watch football history being made.
The World Cup has seen some incredible goal scoring feats, and here is the list of the top 10 scorers at the Finals over the years:
1. Miroslav Klose (Germany) – 16 goals in 24 matches
2. Ronaldo (Brazil) – 15 goals in 19 matches
3. Gerd Muller (West Germany) – 14 goals in 13 matches
4. Just Fontaine (France) – 13 goals in 6 matches, all at the 1958 World Cup
5. Pele (Brazil) – 12 goals in 14 matches
6. Sandor Koscis (Hungary) – 11 goals in 5 matches
6= Jurgen Klinsmann (Germany) – 11 goals in 17 matches
8. Helmut Raun (West Germany) – 10 goals in 10 matches
8= Gary Lineker (England) - 10 goals in 12 matches
8= Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina) – 10 goals in 12 matches
8= Teofilo Cubillas (Peru) – 10 goals in 13 matches
8= Thomas Muller (Germany) – 10 goals in 13 matches
8= Grzegorz Lato (Poland) – 10 goals in 20 matches
The last 10 World Cup winners are as follows:
2014 – Germany (defeated Argentina 1-0 in the final in Rio de Janeiro)
2010 – Spain (defeated the Netherlands 1-0 in Johannesburg)
2006 – Italy (defeated France on penalties after drawing 1-1 in Berlin)
2002 – Brazil (defeated Germany 2-0 in Yokohama)
1998 – France (defeated Brazil 3-0 in Paris)
1994 – Brazil (defeated Italy on penalties after drawing 0-0 in Pasadena, USA)
1990 – West Germany (defeated Argentina 1-0 in Rome)
1986 – Argentina (defeated West Germany 3-2 in Mexico City)
1982 – Italy (defeated West Germany 3-1 in Madrid)
1978 – Argentina (defeated the Netherlands 3-1 after extra time in Buenos Aires)
England have only won the World Cup once, back in 1966 when the finals were held on home soil. A team including Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore, Martin Peters, Geoff Hurst, Jimmy Greaves and Gordon Banks beat a strong West German side 4-2 after extra time, with a Hurst hat-trick sealing the English triumph.
Since then, England have only really come close on two occasions. In 1970, they narrowly lost to West Germany in the Quarter Finals, again in extra time. In 1990, the Germans defeated England again. This time, penalties were required in the Semi Final, as a talented England team featuring Paul Gascoigne, Gary Lineker, Peter Beardsley and Chris Waddle almost made it to the final.
This year, the draw means that England will play Panama, Tunisia and Belgium in their first round group – and all come with their own unique challenge.
Belgium may well be the favourites to top the group, and have one of their finest squads ever. Stars like Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Vincent Kompany and Thibault Courtois are familiar to Premier League fans, and will certainly pose some problems for Gareth Southgate's side.
Panama are the wildcards of the group, having never qualified for a World Cup before. They scraped through a tough qualifying competition at the expense of the United States, and shouldn't be underestimated, even though they lack world-famous stars.
Tunisia are known for their pragmatic, no-frills football, and their solid style has seen them win the African Cup of Nations once, and qualify four times for the FIFA World Cup. Again, they lack major stars, although captain Wahbi Khazri's free kick skills will be familiar to Sunderland fans.
What we know so far about the time, date and venue for the Group G's fixtures, where England is, is as follows:
Tunisia vs England – 19:00 on Monday, 18th June, 2018 at the Volgograd Arena. Volgograd.
England vs Panama – 13:00 on Sunday, 24th June, 2018 at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Novgorod.
England vs Belgium – 19:00 on Thursday, 28th June, 2018 at Kalingrad Stadium, Kaliningrad.
Should England come first in the group, their 2nd round fixture will be held at 19:00 on Monday, 2nd July, at the Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don.
If England comes second in the group, their 2nd round game will be held at 19:00 on Tuesday, 3rd July, at the Otkrytie Arena, Moscow.
After that, England could play in Kazan or Samara, followed by a Semi Final and the Final at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium. However, there is a long way to go and England will have to go through some stern tests before they get to the last stages of the tournament.
The time of the single games of this year's football madness are:
Semi Final 1 – Winner 57 vs winner 58 19:00 on Tuesday July 10th, 2018. St Petersburg.
Semi Final 2 – Winner 59 vs winner 60 19:00 on Wednesday July 11th, 2018. Moscow (Luzhniki).
Third Place Play-Off – Losers of the two Semi Finals 15:00 on Saturday 14th July, 2018. St Petersburg
Final – Winners of two Semi Finals 16:00 on Sunday July 15th, 2018. Moscow (Luzhniki).
The Women's World Cup has been growing in popularity and reputation over the past decade. The last tournament provided some memorable games, with England finishing in third place – their best ever performance.
The next Women's World Cup will be held in France in 2019 between 7th June and 7th July. As of June 2018, England were on course to secure qualification, leading their group, which includes a strong Welsh side.
The FIFA World Cup is showcase for the greatest players in the world's favourite sport. But as it only happens every 4 years, it really helps to be ready for kick-off, so log onto the HotUKDeals World Cup listings and stock up on everything you need. From beer and snacks to TVs and games, great deals on World Cup products are there for the taking. Even if your team doesn't win – you can save big on the premier sporting event of 2018.