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."

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

Residents of Moscow were excited for the 2018 FIFA World Cup draw taking place in the Russian capital later on Friday evening.

Valeria Lavrenko, a resident of Rostov visiting Moscow, said she's looking forward to the World Cup "because they have built a stadium in our city."

She said she would support Russia but would also like to see Spain in the final match.

Meanwhile, Ivan Novikov is anxious that Russia doesn't go up against too strong a team.

"We remember the world cup in Brazil we didn't have a strong opponent team but even for our team it was a disaster," he said.

Officials from the 32 World Cup teams have gathered in Moscow to find out who will play who at next year's tournament in Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is due to appear at the draw ceremony, which will take place at the State Kremlin Palace.

Moscow - 1 December, 2017

1. Various of visitors posing in front of world cup countdown clock with Brazilian flag

2. Various of Christmas decorations on Red Square

3. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Gelany (last name not given), Moscow resident:

"I'm waiting for the celebration and for the good performance of our team. I really want everyone to celebrate together with us. We don't need sanctions and we don't need anyone. A celebration is a celebration. So please, welcome to Moscow."

4. Red square

5. Various of 2018 FIFA World Cup mascots in central Moscow

6. Various of visitors taking photos

7. Wide of World Cup decorations

8. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Valeria Lavrenko, tourist from Rostov:

"I'm from Rostov and I'm really looking forward to the World Cup because they have built a stadium in our city. Actually it's a huge event and I will support Russia but I would also like to see Spain in the final match."

Moscow - 30 November, 2017

9. Various of shop selling Adidas sponsored World Cup merchandise

10. Customers

11. Close of 2018 FIFA World Cup football

12. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Ivan Novikov, Moscow resident:

"In order to be successful, we don't want a strong team in our group, we remember the World Cup in Brazil, we didn't have a strong opponent team but even for our team it was a disaster. It is interesting for fans if our team plays England, or Brazil, but for success we don't need a strong opponent team. But I hope we play well."

13. Interior of shop

Moscow - 1 December, 2017

14. Wide of clock

15. Traffic on road

16. Building in Kremlin where the draw will take place

Posters and promotional screens for the 2018 FIFA World Cup could be seen on Tuesday around Moscow, as Russia is preparing to host the competition.

Despite the bright colours and cheery mascots, some local residents were unsure about what to expect from the upcoming championship.

Luba, a Moscow resident, says she is excited for the "excellent stadiums" and "new sights" that are being built to host the event.

"We all love football, but unfortunately we do not win as much as we used to" she added.

But Nataliya and Gennady, who were visiting the capital from Samara, said this event "will only be positive for those (FIFA) officials, but certainly not for the Russian people."

Moscow, Russia – 28 November 2017

1. Various of 2018 FIFA World Cup screen in central Moscow

2. Various of 2018 FIFA World Cup wall mural

3. Various of people walking through streets and on Manezhnaya square

4. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Nataliya and Gennady, Russian tourists from Samara:

"Well, I hope that our team will perform well, and that they don't screw it up."

5. Cutaway to Manezhnaya square

6. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Nataliya and Gennady, Russian tourists from Samara:

Gennady: "Honestly, I don't think (the World Cup) will (bring anything positive)."

Nataliya: "It'll only be positive for those officials, but certainly not for the Russian people. They spend so many millions but not on Russia, on themselves. They just want to have a championship in Russia (for the sake of it) – they want to show off."

Gennady: "I don't see anything positive."

7. Cutaway to Manezhnaya square

8. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Vladimir and Anna, IT specialists from Moscow:

Vladimir: "In some parts of the country, infrastructure will be built for the event."

Anna: "Roads will be built."

Vladimir: "It will be more pleasant to stay in some towns… but perhaps not right away!"

9. Cutaway of square

10. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Luba Fyedanova, Moscow resident:

"Well the benefits (of the World Cup) are that excellent stadiums will be built. I think that in the places where the matches take place there will be lots of new sights… there will be wonderful advantages! The people will feel good about it - our people are very welcoming."

11. Various of 2018 FIFA World Cup poster

12. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Luba Fyedanova, Moscow resident:

"Yes of course (it's a good thing). It'll bring lots of advantages. There will be more young people! We all love football, but unfortunately we do not win as much as we used to."

13. Various of 2018 FIFA World Cup countdown clock in central Moscow

14. Kremlin star

Hundred of volunteers at the upcoming FIFA World Cup gathered at an ice rink in Moscow on Tuesday to mark 100 days until the tournament kicks off.

Ambassadors from FIFA addressed the excited crowd and joined the official mascot 'Zabivaka' in pressing a giant button to symbolise the beginning of the 100-day countdown.

Moscow - 6 March 2018

1. Various of Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, where the operning match will be held

2. Various of FIFA World Cup mascot 'Zabivaka'

3. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Roman Ronovsky, World Cup volunteer:

"It is very close. The football fiesta will soon be here. We will be volunteers, we will help people arrive, navigate there way around and to participate and that's cool."

4. Various of event marking 100 days until the FIFA World Cup

5. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Olga Alyoshina, World Cup volunteer:

"It will be an unusual, event in our city there will be many new people with whom we will make friends. Also, I think our city will be decorated and it will be very beautiful, and a lot of fun. And I expect our country will win."

6. Various of the event

Final World Cup preparations were underway on Wednesday in the Russian cities of Moscow, Sochi, St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg.

Fans were arriving in the cities, with large groups in particularly high spirits in the capital Moscow.  

With hundreds of thousands of fans expected to travel to the World Cup, Russian President Vladimir Putin said visitors should "feel the hospitality and welcoming nature" of Russia.

Moscow is home to the 81,000-capacity Luzhniki Stadium, the largest stadium in Russia and one of the biggest in Europe.

It's also a venue well versed in staging major matches - including the 2008 UEFA Champions League final when Manchester United beat Chelsea on penalties.

In Sochi, the 48,000-seater venue that was used in the Winter Olympics has re-opened as an open-air football stadium and was already used in the 2017 Confederations Cup.

The stadium will be back in service to host four World Cup group games: Portugal v Spain, Belgium v Panama, Germany v Sweden and Australia v Peru.

Russians in Saint Petersburg - where the 60,000-seater stadium will host four first round group matches, a quarter-final, a semi-final, and the match for third place – are welcoming the improvements made to the city as they await fans.

So too do Yekaterinburg residents, who are happy about the positive changes the World Cup has brought - the improved pavements, clean streets and new road junctions have changed the city and made it more comfortable.

Moscow - 13 June 2018

1. Various of Colombian football fans fans chanting and dancing in downtown area

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Leonardo Ramires, Colombia supporter:

"It's a beautiful country, everyone has been great to us, and much respect to everyone here, we came to destroy the world cup and to make it number one back in Colombia, hopefully one day."

3. Wide pan of Manezhnaya  Square with crowds of fans and tourists

4. Various of fans gathering and chanting, many with flags

5. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Jose Forero, Colombia supporter:

"Here we're sharing the common the spirit of the goal, that's what unites people. Football is unity of people, fans."

6. Group playing football in square

7. Tunisia fans chanting with flag

8. Fountain

9. Family taking selfie with the mascot of the 2018 World Cup

10. Various of 2018 World Cup installation at Manezhnaya Square

11. Various of "Russia 2018" sign, fans, countdown clock

12. Soldiers marching past

Sochi – 13 June 2018

13. Various of area near Fisht Stadium

14. Various of city volunteers

15. Various of worker on raised platform putting up banner

16. Various of women working at information kiosk, waving to camera and saying UPSOUND (English) "Welcome to Sochi"

17. Tourists, World Cup mascot statues

18. SOUNDBITE (English) vox pop, no names given:

First speaker: "Sochi's really beautiful. People is really, really nice and we're really, really happy here."

Second speaker: "Yes I think these crossroads of different cultures is going to be very good for the city, because you are going to be more popular in the world. So, it's good experience. For you and for everyone."

St. Petersburg – 13 June 2018

19. Wide of Kazan Cathedral

20. World Cup mascot, the wolf "Zabivaka"

21. Alley near Cathedral of the Saviour on the Blood

22. Cathedral in background, fan zone area in foreground

23. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Anna Repina, tourist from Yekaterinburg:

"We hope for the victory of our team (Russia). We understand that the chances are small. We hope that they will reach the semifinals, or the quarterfinals."

24. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Nikita Khudyakov, tourist from Samara:

"I see what's happening in the city, how it's updated. The city is very beautiful originally, but how renovated the streets and buildings now, it's amazing."

25. SOUNDBITE (English) Marcus Domínguez, tourist from Mexico:

"We have tickets for five games and St. Petersburg was our first destination. From here we go to Moscow and five other cities. So, this is a beautiful place, we're walking around here and getting to know the city centre. It's a beautiful day. What more can you ask for?"

26. Trinity Bridge

27. Wide of the Peter and Paul Fortress

28. Vasilyevsky Island

Yekaterinburg - 13 June 2018

29. Central Stadium (Yekaterinburg-Arena)

30. Statues being cleaned at the Stadium

31. "Russia 2018" sign

32. SOUNDBITE (English) Alfonso Ofreria, supporter from Uruguay:

"Well, today is just to walk around, you know, to know all of the neighbourhoods. And may be tonight or tomorrow go out to a pub. And you know that on Friday is the day of the match, so the idea is to be near the stadium and feel all the atmosphere around it. And just go to the match."

33.  SOUNDBITE (Russian) Ekaterina Yunyashina, Russian citizen:

"We really like the way the city has been changing. Because we're just walking and enjoying: everything is so clean. We have noticed that flowers have been sown- quite a lot of flowers there are now. And even though there's no summer, there are still green areas. And therefore, we do really like it."

34. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Derkhanov Ekhibek, Yekaterinburg citizen:

"I believe that it is fine (there being lots of police in the city). That's the way to check everybody, so to speak. It's not that they stop me too often for checking. I consider that it is required to check everyone. This is correct. These are the security measures."

35. Various of police working on the streets

Ahead of the World Cup, Russian authorities are cracking down on the hooligan culture in football.

Groups which wreaked havoc two years ago report surveillance and threats from law enforcement.

Leading hooligans from each club face lengthy prison sentences on old or trumped-up charges if there's trouble at the World Cup, even if they aren't personally involved, a Moscow veteran hooligan told The Associated Press.

He likened their situation to that of "hostages" and said the hooligan scene in Russia "is finished."

"I definitely won't go to any Russian national team games because, if, God forbid, someone does something, I will be the first to be suspected of doing it," he said.

Speaking on condition of anonymity to describe numerous illegal acts, he said he had flown to Marseille in 2016 specifically to take part in fights with the English fans on the streets and in the stadium at the European Championship.

England's hooligans of the 1980s and 1990s inspired many Russian groups - most still bear English names - but in Marseille the Russians wanted to snuff out that reputation.

"It was a game for boys where you must prove who's stronger. There's never any bad intentions," he said.

Alexander Shprygin ran a fan group which worked with the government on World Cup planning, and had been photographed with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but he has rapidly fallen from grace.

Shprygin was twice deported from France during the 2016 tournament and two of his organisation's board members were imprisoned in Marseille over the disorder.

He denies any role.

Three months later, Russian police arrested him in a toilet at a conference held by the national football federation, seeking to question him over an earlier brawl in Russia, and dragged him out past waiting media.

His organisation has been dormant since then.

Shprygin told the AP his friends in the hardcore fan scene have been summoned by Russia's Federal Security Service, the heir to the Soviet-era KGB, for "preventative conversations" and many want to go abroad during the World Cup.

World Cup tickets are worthless without a Russian government-issue "Fan ID".

Applicants are vetted by the Russian security services, who have denied several thousand Russian fans ID to see games at the World Cup and last year's Confederations Cup, according to Oleg Semyonov, formerly a leader of the Spartak Moscow fan scene, who now runs a legal advice hotline for supporters.

Semyonov says authorities are using "a big database" which has barred people accused of taking part in football-related disorder _ including Shprygin, whose ID was cancelled two hours before a Confederations Cup game _ but also some with convictions dating back 20 years for minor offences like jaywalking or public drunkenness.

Most top Russian clubs now have so-called "curators" from the security services "who work with the fan organisations" and have warned them off disorder, Semyonov added.

Amid the crackdown, the Russian fan scene is increasingly split.

So-called "ultras" focus on coordinated chants, lighting flares and staging elaborate displays at games, but can defend themselves if needed.

The hardcore fighters mostly stick to pre-arranged brawls in forests because of tight stadium surveillance.

Some fighters are drifting away from football and turning to organised mixed martial arts events which offer a chance to make money from their hobby.

The Moscow hooligan also lamented the end of hooliganism's golden era, when battles between rival clubs in Moscow came down to tactics as much as strength.

Hooliganism offers a brotherhood, even for those like the Moscow hooligan, who has a university education and a traditionally middle-class job.

A world dominated by football's brawlers would have a simple, honourable way to solve disputes, he argued.

"It always goes by the rule of the fist. If you're stronger, you're right," he said. "If there were more people like that, maybe people wouldn't be building missiles."

Moscow, Russia - 16 May 2018

1. Various of clock with countdown to World Cup near Red Square in central Moscow

FILE: Tula, Russia - 1 December 2017

2. Various of Spartak FC (Moscow) fans cheering and lighting flares at a match

Moscow, Russia - 19 May 2018

3. Wide of craft beer festival venue, poster reading (English) "Big Craft Day Moscow"

4. Football fan, who requested not to be identified, walking at beer festival venue

5. SOUNDBITE (Russian) name withheld (spoke on condition of anonymity), veteran football hooligan:

"The World Cup is bad. Because of it we have big problems, a lot of people under investigation — a lot of problems. So it's not very good for us, it's not a festival of football. So me personally, I definitely won't go to any Russian national team games because, if, God forbid, someone does something, I will be the first to be suspected of doing it."

FILE: Marseille, France - 11 June 2016

6. Various of Russian and English fans clashing at Euro 2016 in France

Moscow, Russia - 19 May 2018

7. SOUNDBITE (Russian) name withheld (spoke on condition of anonymity), veteran football hooligan:

"Russia reached its peak at that moment. From 2000 to 2010 we had a good growth, a lot of people were involved in it. And when everybody found out that we're playing with the English it was just… I have only been to one match, I came there only for that (to fight) and left the next day. It was important. It was a game for boys where you must prove who's stronger. There's never any bad intentions."

Moscow, Russia - 22 May 2018

8. Various of Rostokino district in Moscow where hooligan groups' forest fights have been known to happen

9. Establishing shot of Vladimir Kozlov, filmmaker and author of books on Russian football fans

10. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Vladimir Kozlov, filmmaker and writer:

"I'd say that today in Russia there are several thousand football hooligans, dispersed all over the country in the movements of various teams."

11. Cutaway of Kozlov

12. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Vladimir Kozlov, filmmaker and writer:

"There's been no growth for a while now. The number (of hooligans) has been stable. There was growth when it was very fashionable at the end of the 90s to the beginning of the 2000s."

Moscow, Russia - 5 May 2018

13. Various of football fans and security measures before a football match, police on horseback

Moscow, Russia - 21 May 2018

14. Alexander Shprygin, Dinamo FC (Moscow) fan sitting at table

15. Dinamo FC emblem on flag

16. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Alexander Shprygin, Dinamo FC fan:

"First of all, the FSB (Federal Security Services, former KGB) has started working on the football fans actively which has never happened before. Secondly they've switched on all of the legal mechanisms and if before when you violated a rule at a stadium you could leave the stadium and forget about it, now even the slightest violation isn't left unnoticed."

17. Cutaway of Shprygin

18. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Alexander Shprygin, Dinamo FC fan:

"It's the main event of my life I've been dreaming of all my life and waited for. And of course every football fan dreams of being at Luzhniki stadium to see the opening match with the Russian national team. And I not only won't be able to attend the opening match, I won't be able to attend any match of the World Cup at all. Of course it's annoying."

19. Various of legal advice call centre for football fans

20. Various of Oleg Semyonov, head of the legal advice centre

21. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Oleg Semyonov, head of legal advice hotline for football fans:

"I rather expect some incidents between the Serbian and the Croatians, between Poland and Germany and even between Saudi Arabia and Iran because one side are Shia and others are Sunni and under certain circumstances there might be misunderstandings between them. As for us, all of these football fans are our guests."

Moscow, Russia - 16 May 2018

22. Various of FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 sign on a building

As the war in Ukraine enters its third week, Qatar continues its preparations ahead of the 2022 football World Cup.

FIFA barred Russia from World Cup Qatar 2022 in Qatar and other international sports competitions.

Russia's flag was removed from the qualified nations flags raised next to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 official countdown clock on the picturesque Corniche in Doha.

Russia's expulsion from international football ahead of the World Cup playoffs is heading toward yet another urgent case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

As Russia appeals the decision, Poland's players threatened to boycott World Cup qualifiers that was set to be played at the end of the month.

In Doha, Lusail's Stadium is getting its final touches before FIFA's final draw set on April 1st. The stadium is the largest in Qatar with a capacity to host 86,000 spectators. Lusail will be the final stadium to launch ahead of the World Cup.

"It is the stadium that will host, God willing, the final of the tournament, in addition to nine matches," said Tamim El-Abed, Project Manager of Lusail Stadium in a media tour that took place on Tuesday.

The World Cup will begin on November 21 and ends on Qatar's National day on December 18.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Doha – 15 March 2022

1. External of Lusail Stadium, construction truck passing

2. Tilt down from sky to Lusail Stadium's football field

3. Wide of seats, media representative taking photos

4. Pan left to right of Stadium's seats

5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Tamim El-Abed, Project Manager of Lusail Stadium:

"Lusail Stadium is, of course, the largest stadium in Qatar, which is scheduled to host the 2022 World Cup. It is the stadium that will host, God willing, the final of the tournament, in addition to nine matches in all stages of the tournament, from the groups stage to the round of sixteen, eight round, the semi-final, and final. It can host up to 85,000 fans with a minimum of 80,000 spectators."

6. Person looking the empty stadium

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Doha – 10 March 2022

7. Various of West Bay skyscrapers

8. FIFA World Cup official countdown clock inside a weather protecting bubble, with flags in the foreground

9. Various of flags after the removal of Russian flag

10. Various of people posing in front of the countdown clock

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Nandrolone Misango, security guard in Doha:

"I have the privilege to watch it and also to experience the coming of World Cup in Qatar. And about the war, the thing is very, very, very, very, very disturbing people's mind because, what I say it's also not fair to the innocent children, innocent family, who are in Ukraine for now, but we hope that things would just turn out well. We hope that by God's grace, things will just turn out well and we are going to experience the World Cup without any interference."

12. Two people sitting on the Corniche by the water

13. Focus-pull from wooden boat to person sitting by the Corniche

14. Wooden boats parked