The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ is getting closer – 94 days to go!

In less than four months – on 14 June, to be precise – the 21st FIFA World Cup™ kicks off at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium, as the hosts take on Saudi Arabia. That leaves us plenty of time to enjoy a countdown.

Between now and the start of the World Cup, we will take a closer look at a different statistic from the history of the tournament each day.

94 - The 1994 FIFA World Cup USA™ will be remembered not only for what happened on the pitch, but also for the fact it was the first World Cup where three points were awarded for a win, instead of two. The change was prompted by the desire among fans for more attractive, attack-minded football in the wake of Italy 1990, with the World Cup adopting a system that had been in place in the English League since 1981. USA 1994 was also the first world finals where goalkeepers were prohibited from handling back-passes played to them by team-mates and the first where players’ names were printed on the backs of shirts and smaller numbers on the chest to help radio and TV commentators identify them more easily.