From the desk

Russia Vs Saudi Arabia

Updated 21 September 2026 UK · en-GB

The wait is finally over. The biggest footballing event of the planet is about to unfold. For the first match of the tournament, Russia will be facing Saudi Arabia in the Luzhniki Stadium in World Cup Group A. This is not a game which will get fans excited but being the first match of World Cup, it will surely attract the attention of football fans across the world.

Casinos holding a UK Gambling Commission licence

The list is limited to UKGC licence holders, with welcome terms taken from each operator’s own page.

Ratings checked 21 September 2026

No wageringFree spins

19.7UK Casino ClubUKGC licence · online since 2000£700 welcome package over first five depositsWagering 10xVisit UK Casino ClubPayPal · Trustly · Skrill · Games Global
Offer terms
Wagering 10x
What we checked
Licence on the UK Gambling Commission register, welcome offer taken from www.whichbingo.co.uk, payment list from our own database.
29.5Jackpot City CasinoUKGC licence · online since 1998100% up to £100 + 100 free spins on JackpotCity Gold BlitzWagering 10xVisit Jackpot City CasinoPayPal · Trustly · Apple Pay · Evolution Gaming · NetEnt
Offer terms
Wagering 10x
What we checked
Licence on the UK Gambling Commission register, welcome offer taken from www.casino.co.uk, payment list from our own database.
39.4888 sportUKGC licence · online since 1997Bet £10 get £30 in free betsCode 30FXSVisit 888 sport
Offer terms
Code 30FXS
What we checked
Licence on the UK Gambling Commission register, welcome offer taken from gg.co.uk, payment list from our own database.
49.2Dafabet CasinoUKGC licence · online since 2004100% first deposit bonus up to £20018+ · T&Cs applyVisit Dafabet CasinoSkrill · Neteller · Paysafecard · Evolution Gaming · NetEnt
Offer terms
Terms published by the operator; check the site before you claim.
What we checked
Licence on the UK Gambling Commission register, welcome offer taken from thegameday.com, payment list from our own database.
59.1Spin CasinoUKGC licence · online since 2002Stake £20 & get 150 free spins (50 a day for 3 days)Wagering 0x · Wager-free spinsVisit Spin Casino Read reviewTrustly · Apple Pay · Skrill · Evolution Gaming · NetEnt
Offer terms
Wagering 0x · Wager-free spins
What we checked
Licence on the UK Gambling Commission register, welcome offer taken from www.spincasino.co.uk, payment list from our own database.
68.9Zodiac CasinoUKGC licence · online since 1998£1 deposit — 80 chances on the Mega Moolah jackpot18+ · T&Cs applyVisit Zodiac CasinoPayPal · Trustly · Apple Pay · Evolution Gaming · Games Global
Offer terms
Terms published by the operator; check the site before you claim.
What we checked
Licence on the UK Gambling Commission register, welcome offer taken from kingcasinobonus.uk, payment list from our own database.
78.8888 CasinoUKGC licence · online since 1997Deposit £10, stake £10 — get 100 free spinsWagering 0x · Wager-free spinsVisit 888 CasinoPayPal · Trustly · Apple Pay · Evolution Gaming · NetEnt
Offer terms
Wagering 0x · Wager-free spins
What we checked
Licence on the UK Gambling Commission register, welcome offer taken from www.freebets.com, payment list from our own database.
88.6Luxury CasinoUKGC licence · online since 1998£1,000 welcome package over five deposits18+ · T&Cs applyVisit Luxury CasinoPayPal · Trustly · Apple Pay · Evolution Gaming · Games Global
Offer terms
Terms published by the operator; check the site before you claim.
What we checked
Licence on the UK Gambling Commission register, welcome offer taken from www.bonusfinder.co.uk, payment list from our own database.
98.5William HillUKGC licence · online since 1934200 free spins when you deposit & stake £10Wagering 10x · Code WHV200Visit William HillPayPal · Trustly · Apple Pay · Evolution Gaming · NetEnt
Offer terms
Wagering 10x · Code WHV200
What we checked
Licence on the UK Gambling Commission register, welcome offer taken from www.aceodds.com, payment list from our own database.
108.3Play Jango CasinoUKGC licence · online since 2020£25 bonus + 77 free spinsWagering 10xVisit Play Jango Casino Read reviewPayPal · Trustly · Apple Pay · Evolution Gaming · NetEnt
Offer terms
Wagering 10x
What we checked
Licence on the UK Gambling Commission register, welcome offer taken from www.bonusfinder.co.uk, payment list from our own database.
118.2MrQ CasinoUKGC licence · PayPal100 free spins on your first £10 deposit — no wageringWagering 0x · Wager-free spinsVisit MrQ CasinoEvolution Gaming · NetEnt
Offer terms
Wagering 0x · Wager-free spins
What we checked
Licence on the UK Gambling Commission register, welcome offer taken from mrq.com, payment list from our own database.

Show all 11 casinos

18+ only. We may earn a commission when you open an account through a link on this page; it never changes the order above. GambleAware.org · GAMSTOP self-exclusion · National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.

Form

When Russia presented its candidature to host the World cup in 2008, they wouldn’t have thought that they will be entering the tournament as the worst ranking team of the competition. Russia hasn’t won any game in their last 7 appearances with their last win coming in October 2017.
Saudi Arabia is the second last ranking team to qualify for the World Cup 2018. However, compared to Russia, they are in much better form. They have won 2 of their last 6 matches and hold off the full strength Germany to a 2-1 loss.
This match is going to be really important for both the teams as they have Uruguay and Egypt in their group. If any of these teams want to get past the group stage, they have to win this one.

Squads

Playing in front of the home crowd, the Russians will put up the strongest possible teams and try to give it their best if they hope to go any further than the Group stage.

Russia Predicted XI:
Akinfeev, Fernandes, Ignashevich, Granat, Kudryashov, Zobnin, Samedov, Dzagoev, Golovin, Zhirkov, Smolov
Saudi Arabia will also be going into this match all guns blazing and try to maintain their resistance in front of their goal.

Saudi Arabia Predicted XI:

l Maiouf, Al-Breik, Hawsawi, Hawsawi, Al-Harbi, Otayf, Al-Shehri, Al-Jasssim, AL-Faraj, Al-Dawsari, Al-Sahlawi

Head to head

The last time these two team came head to head was in 1993 where Saudi Arabia won by 4-2. But now facing each other again after 25 years, they will be going all in to emerge victorious in their 1^st test.

Prediction

Russia will surely have the home advantage and will hope to be victorious. Although, the victory supposedly have to be hard fought. They have to keep the back line tight and composed if they want to exploit any spaces left the opposition later.

For Saudi Arabia 10 of their players from the squad of 23 plays for the same club, Al Hilal which will surely help them play well together.

The match can be a little dull with both teams trying to keep the clean sheet. The Russian team will not want to disappoint their fans by losing the very first game at home.

We are predicting over 2.5 goals and Russia winning it 2-1 with odds of 1.41 with Mr. Green.

Hoping it to be just one goal before the halftime whistle.

Odds

Russia winning 1-0 with short odds of 7/2.

Russia winning 2-0 will have slightly better odds at 9/2.

Draw of 0-0 or 1-1 will have odds of 9/1.

Saudi Arabia winning by 1-0 will be 21/1.

While Saudi Arabia winning will have a massive 45/1.

Odds at Mr Green and LeoVegas

Russia to win at 1.41

Draw at 4.3

Saudi Arabia to win at a massive 9.

Over 2.5 goals at 2.3.

Under 2.5 goals at 1.64.