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During the 2018 World Cup, Moscow was a cosmopolitan party city
🇨🇭 Switzerland /Sports

During the 2018 World Cup, Moscow was a cosmopolitan party city

From Le Temps · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

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  • Moscow hosted a cosmopolitan party atmosphere during the 2018 FIFA World Cup, a sentiment that has aged poorly.
  • The tournament, the first under FIFA President Gianni Infantino, was characterized by his close ties with Vladimir Putin and its vast geographical scope across Russia.
  • Unlike the 2026 World Cup, the 2018 event had a single focal point in Moscow, which was described as unusually relaxed.

Moscow transformed into a cosmopolitan hub during the 2018 FIFA World Cup, a period remembered for its festive atmosphere. Fans, drawn by their teams' participation or transit, found a Russian capital that felt exceptionally relaxed. However, this memory has not aged well.

The 2018 tournament, the first under FIFA President Gianni Infantino, foreshadowed future events. Infantino cultivated close relationships with leaders, mirroring his later interactions with Qatar's emir and Donald Trump. This World Cup was notable for its immense scale, spanning 2,600 kilometers from St. Petersburg to Sochi and 3,000 kilometers between Kaliningrad and Yekaterinburg.

Despite its vastness, the 2018 World Cup differed from the upcoming 2026 edition, which will span multiple countries. The Russian tournament had a singular heart: Moscow. The capital city was described as unusually laid-back, a stark contrast to the usual hustle and bustle, contributing to the unique atmosphere of that summer.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Temps in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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