It seems unlikely that governments are going to call for their national teams to withdraw from this year's competition but even so there is the prospect of serious problems ahead.
(1) Small fry compared with what might happen, but the racist taunting in St Petersburg last week is likely to be repeated all over the country. African countries in particular are in for a hard time. Will FIFA prove as ineffectual in preventing this as it has done thus far? How do you curb such racism in a hosting country?
(2) Visiting fans are likely to be a target of aggression, probably on an industrial scale. Are the Russian police likely to give their all in controlling the situation?
(3) Putin is in charge. How will be use the platform that FIFA has given him in order to wave two fingers at the world?
(4) The Russian team is mediocre so any hopes that home fans had of their national pride being restored through the performances of their team are remote. How will their frustration be expressed?
(5) With Russia's diplomatic isolation, it is likely that numbers of fans prepared to travel will be way down on expectations. This will effect match atmosphere and overall takings.