Moscow - November 28 2017

1. Various of Russia 2018 countdown clock near Red Square, people walking by

2. Various of World Cup-inspired graffiti on building

Moscow - November 27 2017

3. Various of Spartak fans having dinner and drinking before match

4. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Sergei Ptitsev, FC Spartak fan:

"We usually come here before the home matches of Spartak Moscow. It's Georgian and it's very tasty."

5. Close-up of Spartak emblem on hoodie

6. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Sergei Ptitsev, FC Spartak fan:

"I think it's great to express emotions and have an adrenalin outburst at the stadium, but without any racism or physical aggression towards other people. But other than that, it's absolutely normal to support your team, express emotions."

7. Spartak fan leaving restaurant

8. Spartak fans posing for camera in street ++NIGHT SHOT++

Moscow - November 21 2017

++NIGHT SHOTS++

9. Various of Otkrytie Arena stadium and police

Ekaterinburg - August 19 2017

10. Various of FC CSKA Moscow ultras (waving blue and red flags) in stand during match

11. Various of FC Ural Yekaterinburg ultras (wearing orange shirts) in stand

Ekaterinburg - November 22 2017

12. Establishing shot of sports analyst Petr Shadrin

13. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Petr Shadrin, sports journalist at Kommersant FM:

"There are problems with hooliganism everywhere. We remember Euro 2016 (UEFA European Championship), we remember Marseille and the clashes between the Russian and the British fans. But here they'll be very strict, I'm sure. And the problem will be solved. On the other hand, the problem might be solved with radical methods."

Moscow - November 21 2017

++NIGHT SHOTS++

14. Various exteriors of Otkrytie Arena stadium and fans

15. Fan Igor Malinin and his friend talking before match

16. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Igor Malinin, FC Spartak fan:

"I hope that the Russian national team will be in the group with the most difficult teams because I think that our team has to level up. And even though we play at home, the result is not important. I think, that we should play with the strong and be either beaten up or put up a decent game. One of the two."

17. Malinin and other fans walking outside

Moscow - November 23 2017

18. Various of Malinin and his grandfather Viktor watching football match at home

19. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Viktor Kurdyumov, FC Dinamo fan:

"We can support different teams, but when it comes to the national team, all of us - Lomotiv, Torpedo, Dinamo, Spartak supporters - are in one boat. And we root for our country. And we're looking forward to the World Cup."

Moscow - November 24 2017

20. Various of young men training at Spartak football academy

21. Various of Vyacheslav Vashkevich, trainer at Spartak football academy

22. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Vyacheslav Vashkevich, trainer at Spartak football academy:

"The World Cup opens new possibilities. And I think that our main goal is to come to the stadium and to see with our own eyes the strongest football players in action."

23. Various of young men training

24. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Ruslan Litvinov, trainee at Spartak football academy:

"Every team has a chance to win. Russia has a good chance though, because we're playing at home and most of the supporters at the stadiums will be Russian. Of course their support will play a role."

25. Various of young men training

Football fans in Russia have spoken of their hope for a peaceful World Cup without hooliganism as they look ahead to the country hosting the tournament in 2018.

Clashes between Russian and English football fans in France at the Euro 2016 tournament made headlines for weeks and for fans in Russia that simply want to enjoy next year's event, safety is a concern.

Sergei Ptitsev, a fan of Moscow-based club FC Spartak, said he hopes that the events won't impact the World Cup.

"I think it's great to express emotions and have an adrenalin outburst at the stadium, but without any racism or physical aggression towards other people," he said.

In the run-up to the tournament, the Russian government has drastically tightened security and introduced the Fan ID - a pass, that involves an obligatory background check for every person that has purchased the ticket for a World Cup game.

Some warn that if there are any potential problems with hooliganism, Russian police and security will not hold back.

"Here they'll be very strict, I'm sure. And the problem will be solved," said Petr Shadrin a sports journalist at Kommersant FM.

"The problem might be solved with radical methods."

Igor, a young man in his 20s has been a Spartak fan since he was a little boy, unlike his grandfather, Viktor, who himself roots for Dinamo.

"We have never argued about that," said Igor.

"The wonderful game that is football unites us," nodded his grandfather, almost tearful.

Both men are equally excited about the World Cup.

"We can support different teams, says Viktor, but when it comes to the national team, all of us - Lokomotiv, Torpedo, Dinamo, Spartak supporters - we're all in one boat."