What is it?
Weirdest Hammer and Sickle I've ever seen.
From the 2018 Organizing Committee’s press release is the following description:
“To creatively capture the essence of this remarkable historic moment inspiration was drawn from both Russia’s rich artistic tradition and its history of bold achievement and innovation. Above all, Russia’s pioneering in space was a truly captivating theme,” says the release.
According to the authors of the idea, “The shape of the Official Emblem of the 2018 FIFA World Cup takes on the universally-recognisable outline of the FIFA World Cup Official Trophy, while the bold use of red, gold, black and blue in the Emblem’s colour palette was inspired by centuries-old techniques seen in world-renowned Russian art dating back to the earliest Icon paintings.”
“The Magic Ball at the top of the Emblem puts the world’s love of football into the spotlight. And the components of the Emblem taken together blend unique attributes of the FIFA World Cup and of Russia as host nation. It unites magic and dreams as the FIFA World Cup will do for millions of fans in 2018,” the release says.
Looks like a disease strain under a microscope.