Russia just hosted the 2018 World Cup, and there are young, world-class players that are raising expectations on the international level. But the Russia national team was just handed a big setback as it hoped to build off a 2018 World Cup where it advanced all the way to the quarterfinals. On Monday, Russia was banned from global sports for four years due to doping, the World Anti-Doping Agency announced. If upheld, Russia would be excluded from the 2022 World Cup in addition to other events in other sports. More on that here.
England daring to dream, the goals, the drama, the fans and VAR - we argue why this was the greatest World Cup in history.
France scores a flurry of goals to saunter to a second World Cup title with a 4-2 win over Croatia. Look back at how the moment of glory unfolded in our live blog.
Including: England’s mental shift, why everyone loves Neymar, and the height of Mel from Mel and Sue
The World Cup has been a PR success for the country and its president but that is not the whole story.
Spain and Portugal played to a breathless 3-3 tie on the second day of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, with a dizzying 997 passes completed, with a hat trick from Cristiano Ronaldo, with a candidate for goal of the tournament on Nacho’s searing volley through traffic to put Spain ahead, with Ronaldo providing the equalizer on an improbably swerving free kick in the dying moment.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the presence of European teams in the World Cup semifinals should be a sign to other regions that they need to improve. Uruguay and Brazil were the only two non-European nations to advance to the quarterfinals, with the last remaining CONCACAF team, Mexico, knocked out by Brazil in the round of 16.
Belgium's stars stumbled when it mattered and their form vanished as France showed impressive character to win 1-0 en route to the World Cup final.
Russia's World Cup adventure ended after defeat on penalties, setting up an intriguing World Cup semifinal between Croatia and England.
Cristiano Ronaldo shows off his skills in training by bending a ball into the net from behind the corner flag, as Portugal prepare for their last-16 tie with Uruguay.
With the group stage now over, who have you rated as the best and worst players so far at the World Cup?
The folks at FIFA haven’t done much for us over the years, but we can thank them for the customary breather between group play and the knockout rounds of the World Cup every four years. This time, though, we might need more than a day to recover.
Is this Brazil's year? Could we get a Spain-Portugal rematch? Or will England prevail?
The knockout stage offers up two very different brackets. By finishing second, England have increased their chances. But Mexico are in for a tough ride.
The curse of the champions reared its head again on Day 14 at the World Cup when title-holder Germany crashed out of the tournament. Germany's 2-0 loss to South Korea in Kazan and Sweden's 3-0 win over Mexico in Yekaterinburg in the early set of games meant the 2014 champions leave with one win and two losses. Mexico backed its way into the round of 16 alongside group winner Sweden.
A draw was enough to for France and Denmark both to progress to the Round of 16 and neither team really got out of first gear in a tedious top of the table clash, which was Russia 2018's first 0-0 stalemate.
We round up the best photography from the second week of the World Cup in Russia, including some thumping strikes and tidy celebrations
How do you get a competitive edge at this World Cup? With sorcerers, goatees, recovery trousers and Coach K, of course. No, really.
What are the World Cup group tiebreakers? Where could they come into play in 2018? And which scenarios bring complete chaos?
Fast food chain admits ad urging Russian women to procreate with soccer stars, "turned out to be too offensive"