The wonders of France v the beauty of Croatia

The World Cup is much more than a sporting event. It is a world of inspiration for travellers as well.

New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

The World Cup is much more than a sporting event. It is a world of inspiration for travellers as well.

While Russia outperformed expectations by making it into the quarter finals, its horseback-riding Cossacks - a semi-military community akin to Japan's samurais - captured the world's attention as they guarded stadiums and fans. From Mexican fans in sombreros to Japanese fans tidying up the stands with blue trash bags, the tournament is a chance for countries to showcase their culture and, implicitly, the possibilities for travel.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.