Soccer Fever! Watch the 2018 FIFA World Cup/ La Copa Mundial de Fútbol 2018

Today is a big day being celebrated by millions of people around the world: the 2018 FIFA World Cup is beginning and the whole world is watching.

This is not just any other tournament; I just heard on NPR that 3 billion people are expected to watch the games that are being held in Russia over the next month. It is not only the biggest soccer tournament in the world; it is also one of the biggest shows that humanity has to offer: a total of 32 teams from around the globe will compete in 12 venues and 11 cities, in a total of 64 matches.

In general I’m not a big sports fan. But this is different because it is not just a sports event, it is a cultural one. The Cup unites the world and brings a smile to billions of people, regardless of race, religion, age, gender, income level, etc.

I’m from Argentina and I grew up in a country that loves fútbol. Every four years when there is a Copa Mundial the country stops, and people just watch football for hours. A certain dynamic takes place. I have a memory of an appliance store chain in Buenos Aires selling TV’s (those big ones from the 90’s), and many people watching through the glass windows while the game was taking place.

But this is not only happening in Argentina. The fever takes hold all around the world, and Google is honoring it with a Doodle series featuring artwork from artists in each of the 32 qualified nations. The Doodle will change every day to feature the teams that are playing.

How many times have I heard the question: Who do you think is better, Maradona or Pele? referring to the famous soccer players from Argentina and Brazil, two neighboring countries that are rivals in soccer.

The first time I realized the power of fútbol was in Israel in the 1980’s when I was a teenager trying to talk to a teenager from Ethiopia. I didn’t know Hebrew then. I said I was from Argentina.  And he replied: Maradona!

This year people are excited about two great Ballon D’Or winners: Lionel Messi from Argentina and Christiano Ronaldo from Portugal. Each one has received a record five awards.

Recently soccer fans in Israel were very upset because the friendly game against the Argentinian national team was canceled and they missed their chance to see Messi playing.

If you want to watch it live in United States, Fox has the rights to the tournament in English, while Telemundo has the Spanish broadcasting rights. You can stream games at fuboTV.

My son is ready with his Messi shirt bought in Argentina, sent to him by his grandma.

I’m not a soccer expert but for fun a good final would be Argentina vs Brazil, or Argentina vs Portugal to see Messi and Ronaldo in the same match.

Here are some of the games. Enjoy! Watch! Share!

 

THURSDAY, JUNE 14
Russia vs. Saudi Arabia 11 a.m. ET Moscow Fox and Telemundo

 

FRIDAY, JUNE 15
Egypt vs. Uruguay 8 a.m. ET Yekaterinburg FS1 and Telemundo
Morocco vs. Iran 11 a.m. ET Saint Petersburg Fox and Telemundo
Portugal vs. Spain 2 p.m. ET Sochi Fox and Telemundo

 

SATURDAY, JUNE 16
France vs. Australia 6 a.m. ET Kazan FS1 and Telemundo
Argentina vs. Iceland 10 a.m. ET Moscow Fox and Telemundo
Peru vs. Denmark 12 p.m. ET Saransk FS1 and Telemundo
Croatia vs. Nigeria 3 p.m. ET Kaliningrad FS1 and Telemundo

 

SUNDAY, JUNE 17
Costa Rica vs. Serbia 8 a.m. ET Samara Fox and Telemundo
Germany vs. Mexico 11 a.m. ET Moscow FS1 and Telemundo
Brazil vs. Switzerland 2 p.m. ET Rostov FS1 and Telemundo

 

MONDAY, JUNE 18
Sweden vs. South Korea 8 a.m. ET Nizhny Novgorod FS1 and Telemundo
Belgium vs. Panama 11 a.m. ET Sochi FS1 and Telemundo
Tunisia vs. England 2 p.m. ET Volgograd FS1 and Telemundo

 

TUESDAY, JUNE 19
Poland vs. Senegal 8 a.m. ET Moscow FS1 and Telemundo
Colombia vs. Japan 11 a.m. ET Saransk Fox and Telemundo
Russia vs. Egypt 2 p.m. ET Saint Petersburg Fox and Telemundo

 

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20
Portugal vs. Morocco 8 a.m. ET Moscow FS1 and Telemundo
Uruguay vs. Saudi Arabia 11 a.m. ET Rostov Fox and Telemundo
Iran vs. Spain 2 p.m. ET Kazan Fox and Telemundo

 

THURSDAY, JUNE 21
France vs. Peru 8 a.m. ET Yekaterinburg FS1 and Telemundo
Denmark vs. Australia 11 a.m. ET Samara Fox and Telemundo
Argentina vs. Croatia 2 p.m. ET Nizhny Novgorod Fox and Telemundo

 

FRIDAY, JUNE 22
Brazil vs. Costa Rica 8 a.m. ET Saint Petersburg FS1 and Telemundo
Nigeria vs. Iceland 11 a.m. ET Volgograd Fox and Telemundo
Serbia vs. Switzerland 2 p.m. ET Kaliningrad Fox and Telemundo

 

SATURDAY, JUNE 23
Belgium vs. Tunisia 8 a.m. ET Moscow Fox and Telemundo
Germany vs. Sweden 11 a.m. ET Sochi Fox and Telemundo
South Korea vs. Mexico 2 p.m. ET Rostov Fox and Telemundo

 

SUNDAY, JUNE 24
England vs. Panama 8 a.m. ET Nizhny Novgorod FS1 and Telemundo
Japan vs. Senegal 11 a.m. ET Yekaterinburg Fox and Telemundo
Poland vs. Colombia 2 p.m. ET Kazan Fox and Telemundo

 

MONDAY, JUNE 25
Saudi Arabia vs. Egypt 10 a.m. ET Volgograd FS1 and NBC Universo
Uruguay vs. Russia 10 a.m. ET Samara Fox and Telemundo
Iran vs. Portugal 2 p.m. ET Saransk Fox and Telemundo
Spain vs. Morocco 2 p.m. ET Kaliningrad FS1 and NBC Universo

 

TUESDAY, JUNE 26
Australia vs. Peru 10 a.m. ET Sochi FS1 and Telemundo
Denmark vs. France 10 a.m. ET Moscow Fox and NBC Universo
Iceland vs. Croatia 2 p.m. ET Rostov FS1 and NBC Universo
Nigeria vs. Argentina 2 p.m. ET Saint Petersburg Fox and Telemundo

 

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27
South Korea vs. Germany 10 a.m. ET Kazan FS1 and NBC Universo
Mexico vs. Sweden 10 a.m. ET Yekaterinburg Fox and Telemundo
Switzerland vs. Costa Rica 2 p.m. ET Nizhny Novgorod FS1 and NBC Universo
Serbia vs. Brazil 2 p.m. ET Saint Petersburg Fox and Telemundo

 

THURSDAY, JUNE 28
Japan vs. Poland 10 a.m. ET Volgograd FS1 and NBC Universo
Senegal vs. Colombia 10 a.m. ET Samara Fox and Telemundo
England vs. Belgium 2 p.m. ET Kaliningrad Fox and Telemundo
Panama vs. Tunisia 2 p.m. ET Saransk FS1 and NBC Universo

 

About the Author
Graciela Berger Wegsman is an award-winning playwright, journalist and translator. As a journalist, Graciela has written articles for many newspapers and magazines in Argentina, Israel and the USA. She has been a frequent contributor to the New York Daily News for the last several years, specializing in Latino culture. She writes her "On Being Jewish and Latina Blog." She is also a Realtor working in New York at Douglas Elliman Real Estate.
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