World Cup 2018: Day 1 in pictures

More than 500 local dancers, gymnasts and performers joined pop star Robbie Williams and Russian soprano Aida Garifullina on stage at the tournament's opening ceremony. Shorter than most such events, the 15 minute display also featured speeches from Russian President Vladimir Putin and FIFA boss Gianni Infantino.

Williams (center) was on message with his choice of color for the opening ceremony but couldn't quite escape his controversial nature. TV cameras picked up the British singer raising his middle finger during his short performance.

Putin (second from left) also made an appearance before the opening with a plethora of footballing greats. Lothar Matthäus (far left), Pele and Maradona (center), Jay Jay Okocha (far right) and Kanu (back right) were also in attendance.

One of the lowest profile of all World Cup opening games proved something of a letdown. Russia were far too good for a poor Saudi Arabia side and ran out 5-0 winners. Denis Cheryshev (center) came off the bench to score the second and added another sensational strike in injury time.

Peru are making their World Cup debut at Russia 2018 and tens of thousands of their supporters are making the trip. In the center of Moscow, Peruvians unfurled a huge football shirt on which fans could write positive messages for the team. In fact, massive flags must be a thing in Peru, like this one spotted in Moscow.

Fans from Peru and Iran party together on Nikolskaya street near Red Square in central Moscow. The street became the center of the party for supporters from all over the world as the 2018 World Cup got underway.

That's how the Russians pronounce the name of their country, and they were chanting it loud and clear outside the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow after their team hammered the Saudis. This fan looks particularly pleased with the result.

Saudi Arabia are one of the lowest-ranked teams at the World Cup and they got off to the worst possible start, losing 5-0 to Russia. But thousands of supporters have travelled from the Middle East and they made their presence known.

First prize in the fancy dress stakes must surely go this Colombian supporter, spotted near Red Square. Passport, check. Suitcase, check. Tooth brush, check. Giant tiger headdress, check.

British human rights activist Peter Tatchell was arrested just hours ahead of kick-off in the opening match for protesting against the torture of homosexuals in Chechnya. His arrest follows the decision of German investigative journalist Hajo Seppelt not to travel to Russia on advise of the German government, after exposing state-sponsored doping in the country.

The opening fixture of this year's tournament between two of the world's biggest gas exporters, Saudi Arabia and Russia, was ironically dubbed "El Gasico" by some fans. Here, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Al Saud chats to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, while Russian President Vladimir Putin watches the action.