While the players are having a well earned rest after the semi-finals this week, the fans are out and about sightseeing in Russia. This can't be taken for granted as the country has been notoriously restrictive of tourists' movement in the past.

The World Cup has helped changed people's view of Russia, FIFA President Gianni Infantino told an audience at an event in Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre on Saturday, standing alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin.

FIFA World Cup ambassador and former Miss Russia Victoria Lopyreva called on England fans to come to Russia and support their team on Monday (July 9) despite difficult relations between Britain and Russia.

Fans held their breath through extra time, and many became tearful after Russia's World Cup dream ended with a 4-3 shootout loss to Croatia.

Russian president Vladimir Putin and FIFA President Gianni Infantino each scored goals as they tried their soccer skills in Red Square on Thursday.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told Bloomberg Television on Saturday that OPEC+ production hike will be close to one million barrels per day, echoing the Saudi view.

Oil Ministers from Iran, Russia and the UAE gathered in Vienna for the OPEC+ meeting react to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tweet on Friday. Trump said on Twitter: “Hope OPEC will increase output substantially. Need to keep prices down!”

Burger King pulls an ad that offered free burgers to women who are impregnated by footballers during the World Cup in Russia.

Ahead of OPEC's meeting on Friday, Saudi Arabia and Russia are pushing the oil cartel to raise oil output steeply from July to meet the growing demand and cover the supply outages from Venezuela and Libya.

Michael McFaul served as US ambassador to Russia under Barack Obama from 2012 to 2014. In an interview with FRANCE 24, he discussed the divisions within the Trump administration on Russia policy.

Our panel of journalists looks at Russia's biggest sporting event since the 1980 Summer Olympics, with the hosts surprising themselves in the World Cup opener with a resounding 5-0 thumping of Saudi Arabia.

Before the World Cup kicks off in Russia, let's take a look at the winners and losers outside of the stadium.