• Locals and football fans in front of The Motherland Calls statue at World War II memorial complex Mamayev Kurgan, in Volgograd, Russia, on June 18, 2018. Atef Safadi / EPA
    Locals and football fans in front of The Motherland Calls statue at World War II memorial complex Mamayev Kurgan, in Volgograd, Russia, on June 18, 2018. Atef Safadi / EPA
  • An electricity pylon, which depicts Zabivaka the official mascot for the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018, is seen near a highway to the Hrabrovo airport in Kaliningrad, Russia, on June 18, 2018. Armando Babani / EPA
    An electricity pylon, which depicts Zabivaka the official mascot for the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018, is seen near a highway to the Hrabrovo airport in Kaliningrad, Russia, on June 18, 2018. Armando Babani / EPA
  • An advertising billboard reading 'Welcome!' is pictured outside the Strigino Nizhny Novgorod International airport, Russia on June 17, 2018. Murad Sezer / Reuters
    An advertising billboard reading 'Welcome!' is pictured outside the Strigino Nizhny Novgorod International airport, Russia on June 17, 2018. Murad Sezer / Reuters
  • A woman screams holding a small dog as fans celebrate after Russia scored the third goal during the opening match of the 2018 World Cup, between Russia and Saudi Arabia, in the fan zone in Yekaterinburg, Russia. Vadim Ghirda / AP Photo
    A woman screams holding a small dog as fans celebrate after Russia scored the third goal during the opening match of the 2018 World Cup, between Russia and Saudi Arabia, in the fan zone in Yekaterinburg, Russia. Vadim Ghirda / AP Photo
  • A boy plays with a ball near the Qolsharif Mosque, a day before the group C match between France and Australia at the 2018 World Cup in the Kazan Arena in Kazan, Russia. Pavel Golovkin / AP Photo
    A boy plays with a ball near the Qolsharif Mosque, a day before the group C match between France and Australia at the 2018 World Cup in the Kazan Arena in Kazan, Russia. Pavel Golovkin / AP Photo
  • Iranian, right, and Moroccan fans play football in front of Saint Petersburg stadium prior the group B match between Morocco and Iran at the 2018 World Cup in St Petersburg, Russia. Dmitri Lovetsky / AP Photo
    Iranian, right, and Moroccan fans play football in front of Saint Petersburg stadium prior the group B match between Morocco and Iran at the 2018 World Cup in St Petersburg, Russia. Dmitri Lovetsky / AP Photo
  • A pedestrian carrying a balloon depicting a football walks at Bauman Street in Kazan, Russia. Eugene Hoshiko / AP Photo
    A pedestrian carrying a balloon depicting a football walks at Bauman Street in Kazan, Russia. Eugene Hoshiko / AP Photo
  • A vendor sells balloons decorated with lights as a woman takes a photo, on a bridge in central Moscow during the 2018 World Cup. Rebecca Blackwell / AP Photo
    A vendor sells balloons decorated with lights as a woman takes a photo, on a bridge in central Moscow during the 2018 World Cup. Rebecca Blackwell / AP Photo
  • A boy jumps into the black sea in front of the Fisht stadium in Sochi, Russia. Andre Penner / AP Photo
    A boy jumps into the black sea in front of the Fisht stadium in Sochi, Russia. Andre Penner / AP Photo
  • A Swedish supporter wearing an ape mask waits for the start of the group F match between Sweden and South Korea at the 2018 World Cup in the Nizhny Novgorod stadium in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. Pavel Golovkin / AP Photo
    A Swedish supporter wearing an ape mask waits for the start of the group F match between Sweden and South Korea at the 2018 World Cup in the Nizhny Novgorod stadium in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. Pavel Golovkin / AP Photo
  • People relax on a football pitch at a hotel in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on June 18, 2018. Ivan Alvarado / Reuters
    People relax on a football pitch at a hotel in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on June 18, 2018. Ivan Alvarado / Reuters
  • A man walks past posters of soccer players in Kaliningrad, Russia, June 17, 2018. Ivan Alvarado / Reuters
    A man walks past posters of soccer players in Kaliningrad, Russia, June 17, 2018. Ivan Alvarado / Reuters
  • A Nigerian fan waits for a flight at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow, Russia, on June 17, 2018. Lucy Nicholson / Reuters
    A Nigerian fan waits for a flight at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow, Russia, on June 17, 2018. Lucy Nicholson / Reuters
  • Sweden's fans take a selfie at a metro station before the match against South Korea. Alena Sevryukova / Reuters
    Sweden's fans take a selfie at a metro station before the match against South Korea. Alena Sevryukova / Reuters

Football

World Cup 2018: Beyond the football - in pictures

We take a look at what is happening away from the pitch in Russia

The National

June 19, 2018

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