ISIS threatens Russian national soccer team at the FIFA 2018 World Cup
ISIS has repeatedly threatened security at the 2018 World Cup, which will take place in Russian cities from June 14 to July 15. In the most recent threat, the Islamist terrorist group released a photo-shopped poster online displaying jihadists brandishing AK47s, lined up opposite the Russian national football team with the phrases “big match,” “IS vs Russia” and “life or death” written on the poster. In the background of the poster, a silhouette of Russian President Vladimir Putin can be seen behind the football players.
The threatening posters first appeared on Telegram and were distributed by the Wafa Media Foundation group, which is supported by ISIS.
In October 2017, a series of threatening publications were released by ISIS. These publications targeted leading players of the national teams of Brazil (Neymar), Argentina (Lionel Messi) and Portugal (Cristiano Ronaldo). ISIS militants are reportedly planning a series of terrorist attacks at the 2018 World Football Cup in Russia.