World Cup Cultural Programme: "Living Room – More than a Public View"

The home of footballing history has unveiled its cultural programme for the 2018 FIFA World Cup™. During the finals in Russia, the Event Hall of the FIFA World Football Museum in Zurich will be transformed into the "Living Room".

From 14 June to 15 July, visitors can follow every World Cup match live at a public viewing with a difference. With its own exciting programme of events, the Living Room will provide entertaining variety for football connoisseurs and casual fans alike.

With special guest appearances, quiz nights, music, short films and plenty of football miscellany peppered with original objects, all wrapped up in a welcoming atmosphere complete with a small bar, sofa corners and high tables, the Living Room is the perfect place to experience matches at this summer's tournament. Each day of the programme includes exciting and interesting events on the history and culture of the beautiful game, each one themed to fit with that day's games.

Panel discussions will feature footballing personalities such as current Esteghlal coach Winfried Schafer on Iranian football culture and German world champion Uwe Bein on his memories of winning the World Cup in 1990, while former Switzerland internationals Hakan Yakin, Ciriaco Sforza, Andy Egli and Thomas Bickel will serve as experts for La Nati's matches.

The cultural programme will also focus on the link between the beautiful game and art. Events include a football poetry slam offering cheeky and clever analysis after the final whistle, a symphony setting some of the most memorable moments in World Cup history to classical music, and live commentators from different footballing cultures adding authenticity to matches. Guests can also enjoy a theatre production from the FC Zurich Museum, while the "schule&kultur" initiative by the Canton of Zurich's Office of Elementary Education will give a performance entitled "Offside – Der Traum von Fussball-Profi" ("Offside – The Dream of A Professional Footballer") for children and families.

The Living Room will also play host to an Artist in Residence for the duration of the 2018 FIFA World Cup™. Argentinian cartoonist German Aczel will create a new work of art live in the museum during the tournament, adding one picture per match to document Russia 2018 with his unique caricatures.

"We are excited about the World Cup and can hardly wait for the finals to kick off in Russia, and are also looking forward to launching our eagerly-awaited World Cup cultural programme in Zurich," said museum director Marco Fazzone. "As well as giving visitors the chance to watch World Cup matches together in our Living Room during the tournament, we also want to offer additional content about the history and culture of the beautiful game in a very special environment and provide a lively hub for football fans from Zurich and around the world to meet during the World Cup."

The full event calendar, including all live matches and World Cup cultural programme events, can be downloaded HERE as a PDF.

The FIFA World Football Museum's Living Room is open from Tuesday to Saturday every week during the World Cup. Entry to the World Cup cultural programme, including all events and public viewings, is free. On Mondays, visitors can watch World Cup matches in the neighbouring 1904 Sportsbar.