In Russia, a Few Hold Out Hope

Fewer Russians will watch the World Cup this year than during the 2004 European soccer championships, according to a recent survey, but 6% of Russian soccer fans said their country will win the World Cup -- even though Russia didn’t qualify for the tournament.

Some 16% of respondents said they would keep close track of the World Cup, and another 16% said they would watch from time to time, according to the independent Levada Center, a respected polling agency.

Those figures were down from 23% and 22%, respectively, that were recorded in a similar survey conducted before Euro 2004 at Portugal, where Russia’s team did compete.

The latest opinion poll, conducted last month, surveyed 1,600 Russians over age 18 in 128 cities and villages. The margin of error was less than 3%.

Fifty percent of respondents said they weren’t interested in the World Cup matches whatsoever, up from 41% in the 2004 poll. Those included the overwhelming majority of surveyed women -- 67%.

Perhaps the declining interest “has to do with the fact that our [national] team did not make the playoffs and did not become a participant in the world championship,” the polling service said.

However, interest among the 18-24 age group remains relatively high, with 22% saying they will keep a close eye on the Cup matches.

Ten percent of respondents predicted Brazil would win this year’s World Cup, and 75% had no idea who’d win. And 6% -- blissfully unaware of their country’s nonparticipation -- forecast that Russia would come out on top.