FIFA announced Monday that British pop star Robbie Williams and Russian soprano Aida Garifullina will perform before the 2018 World Cup opener at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, with retired Brazilian superstar Ronaldo also playing a part.

In the opening ceremony, to be held shortly before the tournament's first match between host Russia and Saudi Arabia on Thursday, the two performers will put on a "musical extravaganza," a media release from FIFA said.

(From L-R Ronaldo, Robbie Williams, Aida Garifullina)

[photo: FIFA.com]

Ronaldo, a two-time World Cup winner -- in 1994 and 2002 -- and golden ball recipient as the tournament's best player in 1998 will represent "the football glory that all players will be hoping to achieve" at the more than month-long tournament.

Garifullina, born in the southwestern Russian city of Kazan where Japan is based during their pre-tournament camp, is a famed soloist at the Vienna State Opera.

"The image that I will be presenting to the whole world will be very symbolic and associated with a dream coming to life," Garifullina said.

"We will find out for whom this precious dream will come true, back on the same stage, after a month-long festival of football in Russia."

A former member of boy band Take That and successful solo pop star, Williams said the chance to perform ahead of the opening of the World Cup fulfills a boyhood dream.

Ronaldo understands the feeling Russia will be experiencing as host, given his involvement in Brazil four years ago, and he is happy to share in that excitement, he said.

"The opening match is always a very symbolic one -- it is that instant when you realize that the big moment you, as a player or fan, have been waiting for four years has finally arrived," Ronaldo said in the statement.

"No one knows what will happen in the four weeks of the tournament, but everyone is sure that it will be memorable."