The former Take That member will sing for an audience of 80,000 people at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium, just ahead of the opening game between Russia and Saudi Arabia.

The British icon has promised an “unforgettable show” and will be joined by Russian soprano Aida Garifullina, as well as former Brazilian international Ronaldo, who was part of the winning teams in 1994 and 2002.

Williams has stated that: “I’ve done a lot in my career, and opening the FIFA World Cup to 80,000 football fans in the stadium and many millions all over the world is a boyhood dream.”

This upcoming performance comes two years on from his controversial single ‘Party Like a Russian,’ which offended some Russian listeners with its lyrics about an unspecified oligarch: “Alleviate the cash from a whole entire nation / Take my loose change and build my own space station.”

Fifa has announced that the opening ceremony will take place much closer to kick-off than usual, just 30 minutes before the start of the opening match.