A colourful new installation dedicated to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ was opened in front of the Moscow Manege exhibition centre before the Final Draw on Friday, when the competing nations discovered their fate in the Russia 2018 group stages.

The outdoor exhibition on Manezhnaya Square comprises 11 figures that symbolise the main sites of interest in each Host City of the upcoming tournament.

All of the statuettes are connected by a path paved with neon lighting underfoot, creating the impression of a fairy-tale journey around the Host Cities of Russia 2018. The journey starts with the Official Mascot of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Zabivaka the Wolf, and ends with the magical football that is a central feature of the tournament’s Official Emblem.

Furthermore, the path to the magic ball is not just an enchanting trip around the cities that will attract fans from all over Russia and the rest of the world next summer. The route also offers an informative football excursion: both Muscovites and tourists alike will be able to read about former winners of the FIFA World Cup, get to know the competing nations in 2018 and see the Official Poster of next year’s tournament.

The installation will be open until 15 July next year, when the World Cup Final takes place at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, the final act of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.