———JAPANWhile the squad lacks the star power of many other World Cup teams, Japan can count on a group of reliable players with plenty of European experience. ———MOROCCOIt's taken 20 years to get back to the World Cup. ———PANAMAA first-ever qualification for the World Cup earned Panama a national holiday. He got Colombia into the 1998 World Cup, and then did the same for Ecuador in 2002. Russia will play the tournament opener on June 14, 2018 The World Cup final will be held on July 15.

Source: ABC News November 29, 2017 05:03 UTC