Fifa World Cup 2018: the view from the ground in Russia, and victory for United 2026

As the Fifa World Cup ticks past its halfway mark, the SportsPro Podcast returns for the summer.

On the ground in Moscow for the duration of the world's biggest single-sport event, Press Association chief sports reporter Matt Slater gives SportsPro editor-at-large Eoin Connolly his take on a warm and open welcome from ordinary Russians after a build-up dominated by concerns about the host nation's leadership. 

Still, there are plenty of questions to be answered elsewhere. What should we make of Russia's stunning start? Have the sponsors turned up? Is football coming home and, if so, where is it going? 

Also, after a vote by the Fifa Congress before kick-off gave the 2026 World Cup to the United bid from Canada, Mexico and the US, will Russia 2018 be the last tournament of its kind? And how was the United campaign able to see off the challenge of Morocco with such surprising ease?