The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ is getting closer – 73 days to go!

In less than three months' time – 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.

73 On 18 June host nation USA got their FIFA World Cup USA 1994™ campaign under way in front of 73,425 fans, as they took on Switzerland at the newly opened Pontiac Silverdome on the outskirts of Detroit.

This was the first time that a FIFA World Cup match was played under cover. The grass was grown at nearby Michigan State University and then laid in the Silverdome, which hosted another four matches at the tournament.

A total of 3,587,538 fans at an average of 68,991 per game attended the world finals which ran from 17 June –17 July at nine venues spread across the country, setting two records that are still standing today.