Source: AT
High up in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on June 14, Vladimir Putin shrugged apologetically. The Russian president then reached out to shake the hand of Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman after the Russian national team thrashed their Middle Eastern opponents 5-0 in the opening game of the football World Cup.
At least the Saudi fans enjoyed themselves in the build-up on a sunny mid-June afternoon, as their team played on one of the biggest sporting stages in the world for the first time since 2006. Two days later, regional rivals Iran kicked off with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Morocco in Saint Petersburg to spark wild post-match celebrations, in contrast with those of their regional rivals.