Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia poses for a photo at his seat at the Security Council table after posing for group photo with other Security Council members wearing the jerseys of their country's soccer teams, Thursday, June 14, 2018 at United Nations headquarters. Nebenzia, who is the current president of the Security Council, organized the photo op in honor of the first day of the World Cup Soccer championship. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
The Associated Press
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Russia did its own special launch of the World Cup at U.N. headquarters in New York with large screens to watch the opening match and an invitation to ambassadors to show up in the jerseys of their national team - which many did.
Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told a large crowd in the Delegates Lounge just before Thursday's start of the Russia-Saudi Arabia match: "We turned, I think, the whole U.N. into a big fan zone."
"I seriously hope it will be a peaceful month for us to enjoy both peace and football," said Nebenzia, wearing a red Russian jersey with the name Vassily on the back and the No. 10. "I would like to say may the best team win."
As the game started, which Russia won 5-0, he posed for pictures with more than a dozen ambassadors wearing a colorful array of jerseys, including several women.
By coincidence, Russia holds the rotating presidency of the U.N. Security Council this month and several hours later he held another photo opportunity for its 15 ambassadors, all clad in their national jerseys including U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley and British Ambassador Karen Pierce.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who was also invited, showed up in a black referee's uniform and at one point held up a yellow card. But at the end he slipped on the jersey of his native Portugal, which is competing in the World Cup.
The United Nations Security Council Ambassadors and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, center, wearing a referee jersey, pose for a group photo wearing the jerseys of their country's soccer teams, Thursday, June 14, 2018 at United Nations headquarters. Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia, who is the current president of the Security Council, organized the photo op in honor of the first day of the World Cup Soccer championship. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
The Associated Press
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, wearing a referee jersey, poses for a photo with Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Ma Zhaoxu holding a ping pong paddle after they posed for a photo of the Security Council Abassadors wearing the jerseys of their country's soccer teams, Thursday, June 14, 2018 at United Nations headquarters. Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia, who is the current president of the Security Council, organized the photo op in honor of the first day of the World Cup Soccer championship. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
The Associated Press
American Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, center, is applauded by other members of the Security Council as she arrives for a photo opportunity of the Ambassadors wearing the jerseys of their country's soccer teams, Thursday, June 14, 2018, at United Nations headquarters. Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia, who is the current president of the Security Council, organized the photo op in honor of the first day of the World Cup Soccer championship. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
The Associated Press
Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia, right, and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, wearing a referee jersey, pose for a photo at their places on the Security Council chambers desk after posing for a group photo with other members of the Security Council wearing the jerseys of their country's soccer teams, Thursday, June 14, 2018 at United Nations headquarters. Nebenzia, who is the current president of the Security Council, organized the photo op in honor of the first day of the World Cup Soccer championship. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
The Associated Press