Reportedly, 2018 FIFA World Cup hosts Russia, is facing a steep task ahead of the football extravaganza with millions of dollars being poured into its online gambling industry. As per analysts, the industry's annual turnover was $11.8 bn in May 2017 and is expected to be triple in next five years.

The FIFA Council on Tuesday has approved the expansion of the football World Cup from a 32-team event to a 48-team event from the 2026 edition. The move, welcomed by many as 'inclusive', will be the first structural change to the tournament since 1998 when participation was increased from 24 to 32.

After Bengaluru FC delighted Indian football fans by reaching the AFC Cup finals yesterday, the Indian national team received a boost on Thursday with an 11-place jump to 137th in the latest FIFA rankings. This is the first time in 7 years that India have reached the top 140 in the rankings.