Soccer may be the global game, but it is money and oil that make the world go round. The opening match of The World Cup on Thursday will be a rare meeting of the two most powerful men in the energy market at a pivotal moment. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the power behind the throne of OPEC’s dominant member, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, undisputed leader of the world’s top oil producer, will meet to watch their countries face off on the pitch at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. The odds of Saudi Arabia prevailing against the host are around 10% according to bookmakers while Russia’s chances of making it out of their group of four are only slightly higher. But both outcomes are more likely than the OPEC Plus agreement surviving the meeting.

Source: Wall Street Journal June 13, 2018 16:52 UTC