As the build-up ignites excitement around the world, some fanatics are already getting their football fix on the pitch.
Among those to contract World Cup fever have been a group of Melbourne-based Bangladeshis who donned the jerseys of Brazil and Argentina over the weekend for their own match.
In a Messi meets Neymar style conflict, members of Melbourne's Bangladeshi community held their own 2018 FIFA World Cup Fan Championship at the Footscray Park Campus of Victoria University.
Wearing the jersey of Messi, Mamun Haque of Argentina took the 1-0 lead in the 38th minute with a spectacular free kick.
Source: Supplied
Under pressure, and with Brazil desperate to return to the game, attacks and counter-attacks followed, and in an attempt to thwart Brazil, Anup Kumar received the only yellow card in the match. Although the last was not saved.
In the second half Heera equalized for Brazil, Argentine goalkeeper Tushar defeated by an excellent headshot from the D-box.
As there were no more goals in the scheduled time, the game went for the extra time, but neither team managed to get the ball across the line, so referee Imran Ali announced the two team as joint winners.
The captain of 'Brazil', Jaedi Sajib, said, "It's a friendly match. We organised this match to create tension around the World Cup."
Source: Supplied
"We want to pass the message that Bangladeshi expatriates are thinking about the World Cup football and are also active in the field," said Mamun Haque, the captain of 'Argentina'.
As well as the Bangladeshi expatriates, football fans from other communities watched the friendly match too.
Players of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Fan Championship Match in Melbourne. Source: Supplied
