The 2018 World Cup in Russia is highly controversial, with some Western leaders calling for a boycott of the event or even an attempt to block it. For Russia, the World Cup represents an opportunity to throw off its political isolation, and to recover from the scandals surrounding state-sponsored doping. The event, however, is not without its risks, especially in light of the large number of foreigners who will be attending the games. Drawing on conclusions from the special edition of Problems of Post-Communism, focused on the 2018 World Cup, the panel will discuss the issues involved in Russia hosting the World Cup.