World Cup 2018 - Discovery Library Display

The FIFA 2018 World Cup, has now kicked off in Russia! This is the first time since the competition began in 1930 that Russia has hosted, with games being played in 12 stadiums across 11 cities.

Russia is a vast country, with, according to National Geographic Kids, an area of 17, 075, 200 square kilometres, making them the largest country geographically to host the World Cup.

Find out more about some of the countries who are taking part, including the host country Russia, by browsing our World Cup 2018 display in the Discovery Library.

Below are some World Cup 2018 facts:

Teams from 32 countries will be taking part in the World Cup.  They include teams from Europe, Africa, South America and North America.

Germany won the last World Cup in Brazil in 2014, beating Argentina in the final.

England is the only home nation to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

FIFA statistics show that 200 of the 736 players taking part in Russia have played in a World Cup before, and of those 53 players have scored World Cup goals.

The World Cup mascot is Zabivaka - a wolf whose name means 'the one who scores'.