Toronto's Russian community ready to party as 2018 FIFA World Cup kicks off

As the greatest soccer players in the world get ready to take centre stage in Russia, Russian-Canadian fansin Toronto are getting ready to cheer on their favourite team.

• 8 things to know about the 2018 World Cup

Russia'snationalsquadtakes the field against Saudi Arabia at LuzhnikiStadium in Moscow at 11 a.m. ET, as the world's biggest sporting event kicks off Thursday.

And back here on theother side of the Atlantic, Russian restaurateurs are expecting to do big business.

"If you're rooting for Russia, we want to provide an environment where Russian people feel like they're at home," said Fima Sitsker, owner of Red Square Sanduny, aRussian bar, restaurant and spa located at 1027 Finch Ave.W. nearDufferin Street

Sitsker says he's unsure of the turnout due to thegame's early start time,but heplans to rerun the games after work.

"We have special trained chefs who make Russian food with a twist," he said.

But Sitsker added that while his bar serves upRussian food, drinks and decor, they expect to have fans from all over come by to watch the games.

"A lot of people from all different communities come here too, to support their own team," Sitsker said.

"Of course, the Russians will dominate."

Flags from all over the world

In a city as multicultural as this one, Ladan Siahpoosh,the owner of Flag Shop Toronto in North York, says they sell flags from all over the world.

"It's been pretty busy these days," Siahpoosh said. "The World Cup is always big in Toronto"

Siahpoosh has been speaking with fans from across the globe, but says Russian, Portuguese and Spanish flags have been flying off the shelves.

And that's not all.

"They've been buying hood covers, side mirror covers, small boxing gloves for the car mirror and giant car flags," Siahpooshtold CBC Toronto.

'It's not only Russia they'll experience'

Meanwhile, some Torontonians are jetting off across the world to experience the World Cup firsthand.

Kasy Kiarash, a member of the coaching staff for the RyersonRams men's soccer program, boarded a plane to Moscow along with the team on Wednesdaynight.

It's a trip Kiarash says he never thought would come to fruition.

"One of the coaches blurted out the words 'World Cup,' and you get that feeling in your stomach, you get the rush," Kiarash said.

The team, which won the Ontario University Athletics men's soccer bronze medal last November,met back in January to set goals for the next year, Kiarashsaid.

They wanted to do something the program has never done before to celebrate their win last season, and decided a trip to Russia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup was the way to go.

"It's one of those things that I think goes beyond the gameof soccer. Taking a trip like this opens your eyes to the world. Some of them have never travelled out of the country," Kiarash said.

The Rams will be spending two weeks in Moscow. The team will be watching two World Cup games, as well as playing exhibition games against Russian academy teams.

The trip will also include visiting a local orphanage to read English books with the kids and running a soccer clinic with them.

"It's not only Russia they'll experience, they'll experience countries around the world coming together to celebrate the World Cup," Kiarash said.

"That's one of the things I love about this game; soccer brings the world together."