Robbie Williams to perform at World Cup opening ceremony

The singer will perform just ahead of the opening game between Russian Federation and Saudi Arabia about 3am on Friday NZT.

Additionally, Russian soprano Aida Garifullina will perform alongside Williams while Brazilian soccer star Ronaldo - a two time World Cup champion - is also present during the opening ceremony, according to Federation Internationale de Football Association.

Federation Internationale de Football Association says the opening ceremony will take place much closer to kick-off than usual, just 30 minutes before the start of the opening match.

Williams said he was "happy and excited" and that the performance was the fulfilment of a boyhood dream.

He added: "We'd like to invite football and music fans to party with us in Russian Federation, in the stadium, or to tune in their TVs a little earlier for an unforgettable show".

Cuomo blames racism for weak federal response to Hurricane Maria victims
He and the group he is marching with plan to be in black T-shirts that reflect the Harvard study's estimate of the dead. At a pre-parade breakfast, Cuomo said , "We celebrate much, but we also stand and march in defiance today".

Williams' appearance, for which his payment has not been disclosed, is considered controversial by some due to tensions between Britain and Russian Federation this year following the poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury in March.

"Uruguay have lots of big-game experience and they will be looking to Luis Suarez to provide some star quality to go with it", he added. The song, called "Live It Up", can be found here.

However, FIFA noted that the new Elo method which was first used in chess and later tennis then in other sports for a number of years and is even involved in calculating the women's world rankings, with a specific version (SUM) developed especially to take into account FIFA's considerations.

This is who the experts are backing to prevail this summer.