In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take- A Very Wise Person

It’s confirmed! Fajigirl will be watching Nigeria play Argentina at this year’s World Cup in Russia. I am shaking my little tush in excitement, ohh wee! (Insert smirk smiley). I have no doubt that the World Cup experience, like the cool folks will say, will be “lit!” So, let me give you 8 reasons why you should join me (I’ve also included some World Cup essentials to make the planning easier).

1. You don’t need a visa! Yep you read that right- it’s one of the rare occasions that you can venture into Russia/Europe without having to go through the stress and hassle of applying for a visa. For those of you who are new to Europe or to travelling in general, then this is the perfect opportunity to “disvirgin” your passport. Further details on the visa waiver program can be found here: http://www.russianembassy.org/page/fifa-world-cup-2018-visa-information
2. Russia has a lot to offer. St. Petersburg where the Nigeria Vs Argentina match will be taking place is the “Venice of the North” on account of its arts and cultural heritage. From the pictures and videos I have seen of the city, it is simply stunning and I hope to spend a few days there sightseeing. I will also be visiting Moscow, the capital of the Russian Federation, renowned for its beautiful architecture and home to three UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Kremlin and Red Square.
3. The World Cup period in Russia should be considerably safer than normal especially for non-whites. On a good day, my black and very African self avoids Eastern Europe like a plague as I’ve heard stories of racial abuse and skinheads’ violence; perhaps somewhat exaggerated but I am not prepared to personally confirm. Having said that, I expect a semblance of order and tighter security during the World Cup although general safety precautions would still be advised.
4. Transportation (trains and some shuttle buses) on match days will be free for those with match tickets. Reserve your free transportation here: http://m.welcome2018.com/en/free-transport/
5. This is a relatively budget-friendly World Cup. Hotels even at 3-10 times their normal price are still in the region of €100-€400 per night for decent 4/5 stars (the per person cost is even lower if you will be sharing your hotel room with friends). Flight costs are also not too extortionate.
6. The World Cup is an incredible networking and socialising opportunity. There will be more than 3 million fans from all over the world visiting Russia and lots of events in the various host cities. You can keep track of the official FIFA fan events here: http://m.welcome2018.com/en/fan_guide/special-events/fan-fest/
7. The weather will be conducive for Bikini body showcase (oh yeah baby). Luckily, the World Cup will be taking place in summer when the weather is expected to be 26 degrees Celsius or more, as opposed to the harsh Russian winters.
8. This will truly be a once in a lifetime experience. I was privileged to be at the semi-final of the rugby World Cup in Paris in 2007 and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life! The atmosphere was spectacular- the crowd, the sights and sounds are imprinted in my memory forever and such experiences can hardly be replicated.

What else should you consider?

1. As stated above, accommodation prices are 3-10 times their usual rates during this period and availability are few or in the case of the top hotels, non-existent. Don’t panic though because if other World Cups are anything to go by, then there will be more availability closer to the World Cup start date. My advice for now is for those intending to go, is to book reasonable refundable rates now and check later around middle of May or beginning of June to see if there are more rooms/hotels available.
2. Traffic is notoriously bad in Russia particularly, in Moscow and St. Petersburg and this is without the World Cup crowd. Expect long delays to your journey times during this period.
3. Whilst the hard-core criminals might remain underground, it is my expectation that petty criminals like pick pockets would be rife. I’ve also read reports of corrupt officials including the Police, so I would be cautious relying on persons of authority for assistance.
4. Anecdotally, I read in one publication that the Russian government is recruiting beautiful Russian women to use as spies to seduce rich business men and politicians in order to extract from them top trade or political secrets. So men, a night with a beautiful Russian woman versus holding on to your country’s trade secrets? hmmm not really a tough decision, is it? Haha.
5. Russia is a very very big country and the matches take place in different cities of the country which are far from each other. It would be prudent to take this into consideration when making plans.

Distance between Moscow and the host cities 

If I’ve managed to convince you, then below is what you need to do:

1. Apply for ticket(s) here: http://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/organisation/ticketing/index.html (next phase of ticket sales begins on the 13th of March). Match schedules are listed here: http://m.welcome2018.com/en/matches
2. Make sure that your travel documents are still valid and will be by the time of travel (at least 6 months after your Fan ID expiry date).
3. Book your flights (contact me if you need assistance).
4. Book your accommodation (I would recommend sticking to well-known international brands for hotels. Contact me if you need assistance).
5. Buy official T-shirts and merchandise here:  https://eu.store.fifa.com/

I am available for hang-outs in Russia, so feel free to send me a message via my website contact page or say “hi” when you see me.

Love,

Fajigirl