Where will the World Cup take place. In which cities is the World Cup in Russia our portal will tell. Difficult choice between equals
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On June 14, 2018, the opening of the 21st FIFA World Cup took place in Moscow. Match between Saudi Arabia and the host of the world championship was held at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, and ahead of the football fans for a month will be rooting for the first-class teams in the world and will see dozens of exciting World Cup games.
Since Russia is hosting the World Cup this year, and thanks to numerous requests from fans, we decided to show you what the stadiums that host the 2018 FIFA World Cup look like. Let's see in which cities of Russia the fans will watch the World Cup?
MATCH SCHEDULE FOR THE 2018 FIFA World Cup IN RUSSIASo, the championship in Russia is held according to the decision of the members of the FIFA Executive Committee, who voted for our country on December 2, 2010. In addition to Russia, England wanted to host the main sporting event of this summer, as well as those who applied jointly: Belgium with the Netherlands and Spain with Portugal. As a result of the voting, Russia won 13 votes out of 22 possible, which, in turn, is more than 50% of all voters.
On the eve of the World Cup, a list of cities that will receive guests from all over the world was determined. World Cup matches will be held in 11 cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi, Yekaterinburg, Kaliningrad, Kazan, Samara, Volgograd, Nizhny Novgorod, Saransk and Rostov-on-Don. Stadiums for the World Cup were specially reconstructed for the games in 2018, the design, appearance and landscaping around the arenas changed. And in some cities, especially for the World Cup, new stadiums were built at all.
What does the capital's Luzhniki stadium look like after reconstruction?
The main football stadium in Russia, where the 1980 Summer Olympics were held. Capacity - 81,006 people.
For the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the legendary metropolitan stadium has been reconstructed for 5 years.
During the reconstruction, the builders completely preserved the historical appearance of the football arena, and also increased the roof by 11 meters.
Luzhniki will host 7 football matches of the 2018 World Cup, including the game during the opening, as well as the Semi-final and the Final.
What does the Moscow stadium "Spartak" (the second name "Otkritie Arena") look like?
The stadium in the Pokrovskoye-Streshnevo area is officially the home arena of the Moscow football club Spartak (Moscow).
Capacity - 45,360 fans.
Next to the arena rises a huge sculpture of the famous Spartacus (from the Latin Spartacus) - a 25-meter statue of the Greek gladiator, which is the symbol of the football club.
What does the Nizhny Novgorod stadium look like?
Capacity - 45,331 people.
The arena in Nizhny Novgorod was built specifically for the FIFA World Cup.
The location was not chosen by chance - the stadium is located near a unique and incredibly beautiful natural phenomenon - the arrows of the Volga and Oka rivers.
According to the original idea, the facade of the Nizhny Novgorod stadium was supposed to resemble waves, but such a complex project could not be realized.
What does the Mordovia Arena stadium look like in Saransk?
Capacity - 44 422 spectators.
The football arena in Saransk was built specifically for the 2018 World Cup.
Outwardly, the stadium resembles the sun, and this is no accident, because the sun is the main symbol of the ancient myths and legends of Mordovia.
According to the architects and designers of the stadium, the combination of red, orange and white tiles on the facade of the Mordovia Arena also reflects the characteristic colors of the region.
What does the Volgograd Arena look like?
Capacity - 45,568 football fans.
The arena was built right on the banks of the Volga, on the site of the former Central City Stadium.
The shape of the stadium in Volgograd is similar to an inverted truncated cone, which is 49.5 meters high and 303 meters in diameter.
Interesting solution invented for exterior finish buildings of the arena - according to the idea of the builders, the intersecting blocks on the facade should remind the guests of the city of the festive fireworks of the Victory.
What does the Ekaterinburg Arena look like?
Capacity - 35,696 people.
The stadium was built in the period 1953-1957, so the facade has the form of Soviet neoclassicism, and the Yekaterinburg Arena itself is recognized as an object of cultural heritage.
That is why, during the reconstruction, the historical appearance of the building was completely preserved. The builders restored bas-reliefs, sculptures and stucco decorations from the Soviet era.
What does the stadium "St. Petersburg" (second name "Zenith Arena") look like?
The second largest stadium for hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup was put into operation in December 2016. Capacity - 68 134 spectators.
The large-scale project of the St. Petersburg Arena was developed by the famous Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa, one of the founders of the metabolicist architectural movement, which promotes the ideology of functionalism in architecture.
The arena is located on the Football Alley of Krestovsky Island, on the site of the demolished S. M. Kirov Stadium.
In its appearance, the stadium resembles a spaceship that landed on the shores of the Gulf of Finland.
There is a retractable roof at the top of the sports facility, and a roll-out field has been built inside, which can be removed for entertainment and cultural events.
The budget for the construction of the arena in St. Petersburg exceeded 600 million euros.
This year, the stadium was transferred to the management of the St. Petersburg Football Club "Zenith" for a period of 49 years. What is most interesting, the head coach of FC Zenit Mircea Lucescu aggressively stated that the field at the new stadium is unsuitable even for training.
What does the stadium "Samara Arena" (the second name "Cosmos Arena") look like?
Just like several previous ones, the stadium was built specifically for the main sporting event of this summer. Capacity - 44 807 people.
The facade of the building is made in the form of a transparent dome, which makes appearance the arena is a real space object.
Such an idea was implemented to show fans from around the world that the city of Samara is the space capital of Russia.
What does the Kazan Arena stadium look like after reconstruction?
Capacity - 47,779 seats.
The construction of the stadium was dedicated to the Summer Universiade 2013, and then the sports facility was repeatedly converted for different types sports.
The football field was returned to the arena especially for the FIFA World Cup.
From a bird's eye view, the arena looks like a huge water lily.
What does the Kaliningrad stadium look like?
The smallest stadium of those that host matches of the World Cup this year. Capacity - 35,212 spectators.
The arena in the westernmost point of Russia was also built specifically for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and is located in the very center of Kaliningrad along the embankment of the Staraya Pregolya River.
The building has the shape of a rectangle with rounded edges. It is here that four matches of the group stage of the world championship will be held.
The facade of the five-level building includes three huge tiers with open stands, while the builders promise the fans a perfect view of the match from any sector.
What does the Rostov Arena stadium look like in Rostov-on-Don?
The new stadium in Rostov was built specifically for the World Cup. Capacity - 45,145 football fans.
The football arena has three tiers with stands and canopies that will not allow fans to get wet from the rain while watching matches.
Like the new stadium in Kaliningrad, the Rostov Arena has a rectangular shape with rounded edges.
A unique architectural feature of the building is the stained-glass facade, which combines metal and glass elements, due to which the outlines of the stadium visually resemble sea waves.
What does the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi look like after reconstruction?
The stadium is located in Adler, in the Olympic Park. The arena was named "Fisht" in honor of a mountain peak in the western part of the Krasnodar Territory, the Republic of Adygea. Translated from the Adyghe word "fischt" means "white head".
The capacity of the building is 47,700 people.
The construction of the international class arena in Sochi was timed specifically for the XXII Winter Olympics. It was Fisht that was the main stadium for the competitions, where the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games in 2014.
In connection with the FIFA World Cup 2018, the Olympic Stadium had to be radically rebuilt. Today, Fisht qualifies as an elite category 4 UEFA stadium, and outwardly the arena began to resemble both a shell and a snowy peak at the same time.
Now the design allows viewers to enjoy not only a football match, because from all sides there is an incredible view. During breaks, on one side of the stands you can look at the mountains of the Main Caucasian Range in the vicinity of Krasnaya Polyana, and on the other - at the Black Sea.
Stadiums at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, their capacity and year of construction - The 12 stadiums in Russia hosting World Cup action
Finally, here is a table that indicates the number of fans that one or another playground can accommodate during World Cup matches.
| City of Russia | Stadium name | Capacity (number of seats) | What year was it built? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moscow | Luzhniki | 80 000 | 1956 |
| St. Petersburg | St. Petersburg | 67 000 | 2017 |
| Sochi | Fisht | 48 000 | 2013 |
| Yekaterinburg | Yekaterinburg Arena | 45 000 | 1957 |
| Kazan | Kazan Arena | 45 000 | 2013 |
| Nizhny Novgorod | Nizhny Novgorod | 45 000 | 2018 |
| Rostov-on-Don | Rostov Arena | 45 000 | 2018 |
| Samara | Samara Arena | 45 000 | 2018 |
| Saransk | Mordovia Arena | 45 000 | 2018 |
| Volgograd | Volgograd Arena | 45 000 | 2018 |
| Moscow |
By drawing lots, the cities distributed the matches that will take place at their stadiums. In total, the matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup will be held in 11 cities.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup involved 12 stadiums from 11 cities. There are more arenas than cities, because in Moscow the players will play at two stadiums - Luzhniki and Spartak. Each arena has already been tested for safety and is functionally ready for the World Cup. Many teams are already training in "their" cities.
During the preparation for the tournament, it became known in which cities the 2018 FIFA World Cup will be held. 11 cities received the right to receive guests from all over the world. Moscow will be the main event in football. At two stadiums in the capital, the teams will first play eight group round matches. After that, Moscow will host two matches of the 1/8 finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, one semi-final and a final.
St. Petersburg became the second in terms of football popularity. At the stadium of the same name, the national teams will play first four matches of the group stage. After that, St. Petersburg will host the 2018 FIFA World Cup round of 16 match, the semi-final and the match for bronze medals.
Which other cities will host the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Volgograd became one of the cities participating in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. This city did not receive the right to the playoffs. However, here the players will play four matches of the group stage. The same situation is with Yekaterinburg. Kazan, unlike the two previous cities, received the right to organize the playoff matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. After four group round matches in this city, the teams will play one round of 16 match and one quarter-final.
Kaliningrad and Saransk are two other 2018 FIFA World Cup cities that will only play four matches each. However, one of the most important matches of the entire tournament will take place in Kaliningrad - the confrontation between England and Belgium.
Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Rostov and Sochi will host both group matches and playoffs. After the group round, each of these cities will host one match of the 1/8 finals. The teams will play one match of the quarterfinal stage of the tournament in all cities except Rostov.
The Mundial, which will be hosted by Russia in 2018, will be the 21st among the FIFA World Cups. This significant event for the sports community will be held from June 14 to July 15, providing a whole month of celebration for all football fans. Of course, the mission to be the host country of the World Cup is not only very honorable, but also very responsible.
Russia will not only host one of the most significant world football events for the first time, but will also become a pioneer among all countries of the Eastern European region. There is only one conclusion from the above - the preparation will require a significant infusion of effort, time and, of course, finances, especially since the scale of the event is very serious, and viewers from all over the world will follow it.
The championship will be hosted by 12 stadiums located in 11 cities of the country. The management of the stadiums is already trying with might and main to ensure the proper level of holding a grandiose event. Let's find out which cities will become the locations of the most spectacular football battles, as well as conduct a little monitoring of how ready they are to realize this honorable task.
How was the host country chosen?
Let's dive into history first. Back in 2009, FIFA announced that 9 applications would take part in the fight for the title of the next Mundial location. The Australians, the British, Indonesians, Mexicans, Russians, representatives of the United States, Japanese, Portuguese and Spaniards who submitted a joint application, as well as a tandem of the Belgians and the Dutch, were marked as the main contenders.
A little later, representatives of the Asian, American regions and Australia dropped out of the race after a FIFA statement containing information about the rotation of the continents. At the beginning of 2010, it was announced that this time Russia was chosen as the host country of the World Cup, which managed to get more than 50% of the votes according to the results of the voting.
How were the cities chosen?
After receiving the good news, the selection of cities that could become locations for the 2018 World Cup matches began. FIFA requirements in this regard are very strict. After a long debate, the list of cities began to consist of Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Sochi, Kaliningrad, Rostov-on-Don, Volgograd, Samara, Saransk and Yekaterinburg. Let's find out what preparatory work has been carried out to date, and what else needs to be brought into line with the requirements of the organizers.
Volgograd
The project of the arena "Victory" in Volgograd, prepared for the 2018 World Cup In preparation for the matches of the World Cup, it is planned to implement 39 major projects. Among them:
- construction of a covered and heated sports arena capable of accommodating 45,000 fans;
- arrangement of three training grounds, the bases for which were chosen as the Academy of Physical Culture and Sports, the sports complex "Olympia" and the stadium "Zenith";
- conducting overhaul hospitals, including the development of a helicopter pad;
- construction of 11 hotels;
- reconstruction of the old and construction of a new road surface, which should cover a distance of 280 kilometers;
- purchase of two hundred low-floor buses;
- carrying out works on the reconstruction of urban communications;
- work on the bank protection of the Volga embankment;
- reconstruction of engineering communications;
- carrying out work on the construction of a new runway and the modernization of airport facilities.
Preliminary calculations showed that in order to implement the planned activities, the city needs to have an amount equal to 17 billion rubles, most of them (about 15.8 billion) will be provided by the budget of the Russian Federation, each region will take on 730 million, and the rest will be invested by private organizations. At the same time, it is planned to build new hotels at the expense of private traders. Presumably, it will cost about 9 billion rubles.
Some of the planned projects are already ready. The Hampton by Hilton Volgograd Profsoyuznaya and Park Inn by Radisson hotels were put into operation, work is underway to improve the road surface, and the highway is being expanded. Since the spring of 2015, ongoing construction works for the construction of a new sports arena "Victory", which will use the funds allocated from the budget of the Russian Federation.
Yekaterinburg
Proposed changes to the Central Stadium for the 2018 World Cup This city will be the easternmost location of the 2018 World Cup. The games will be held at the Tsentralny stadium modernized according to FIFA requirements. In total, about 35 billion rubles will be needed to finance the “preparatory” needs, more than 60% of which will be allocated by the regional budget, 12% of the necessary funds will be directed from the federal budget, the local budget will be able to finance 2% of the costs, and the rest will be received from private investors. The preparation of the city for this significant event will take place according to the plan:
- about one and a half billion rubles will be spent on the construction and modernization of venues for training and matches;
- a billion rubles will be spent on medical purposes, providing for the necessary repairs, the purchase of new equipment and resuscitation vehicles;
- the city is going to build more than 20 new hotels;
- it is planned to reconstruct 5 overpasses and build 11 road junctions;
- for improvement environmental situation 19 stations will be built to provide clean air;
- city authorities are going to buy more than 180 buses, 90 trams and almost 30 trolleybuses, as well as equip bus stops with electronic displays.
Today in Yekaterinburg the stadium is being reconstructed, promising that it will become more comfortable with the preserved historical facade of the building. These works should be completed by May 2017 and will cost the city 12.8 billion rubles. In addition, work was carried out to reconstruct the terminal of the international airport, but the terminal itself and the new parking near it are not yet ready.
The previously planned budget for the reconstruction of sports grounds for training has been reduced, so that Yekaterinburg will only host the games of the World Cup group stage. For this, the stadium of the SC "Ural" was reconstructed and the modernization of "Kalininets" and "Khimmash" began. Among the important projects that have yet to be implemented, it is necessary to mention the arrangement of the fan zone in the TsPKiO im. Mayakovsky. The authorities are also stepping up the study of foreign languages by volunteers, call center workers and taxi drivers.
Kazan
The Kazan Arena stadium has already been built and is ready for the 2018 World Cup This city is not without reason considered one of the most sporting in Russia. During recent years a wide variety of competitions and championships have been repeatedly held here - from water sports to the Universiade. This greatly facilitates the preparation for the 2018 World Cup, because in Kazan, many sports facilities are already ready. Among the main advantages of Kazan it is worth noting:
- the presence of a modern four-tiered Kazan Arena stadium, which can accommodate more than 45,000 fans;
- the presence of a huge number of hotels, including network ones;
- good transport infrastructure, including an airport capable of handling up to 2.4 million passengers.
However, the city still has several important projects to implement before the start of the championship. These include:
- construction of 2 new sports bases for training;
- arrangement of a zone for fans on the square near the Wedding Palace;
- construction of apart-hotels for the judiciary;
- carrying out modernization work at the airport in the form of the construction of a VIP terminal for guests of the state of emergency-2018.
Unfortunately, the crisis is forcing the authorities to tighten their belts and abandon the project to build a new station to serve the Moscow-Kazan route.
Kaliningrad
A very modest amount was allocated for the construction of the arena in Kaliningrad Kaliningrad needed serious preparation to be able to reach the level of other cities hosting the 2018 World Cup. The most necessary activities include:
- construction of a new stadium for 45,000 fans. Initially, it was planned to build an innovative arena with a retractable roof on Oktyabrsky Island, having concluded a contract with foreign contractors. However, the overly ambitious plans had to be abandoned: the authorities came to the conclusion that spending 850 million rubles on the stadium would be prohibitively expensive. As a result, they decided to reduce the number of seats by 10 thousand and abandon the retractable roof, swimming pools and additional gyms. Only in 2015 were all the necessary estimates and projects approved;
- the construction of three new bases for training and the reconstruction of Pioner, Selma and Lokomotiv - stadiums that already exist in the city;
- an increase in the number of hotels. In this direction, it is planned to build 20 hotels, but the crisis forced us to take measures to save money - most of them will have no more than 4 stars;
- reconstruction of the historical center of the city. Initially, large-scale work was planned to improve the view of the central part of Kaliningrad, but in the end they came to the decision that it would be enough just to update the facades of buildings;
- updating the technical composition of transport;
- road repair;
- airport modernization.
To date, the city still remains among the lagging behind, so only 4 group stage matches are scheduled to be held here.
Moscow
The concept of the renovated Luzhniki stadium for the 2018 World Cup Of course, from the very beginning of the implementation of the plan to prepare Russian cities for the 2018 World Cup, the capital has been in the first place, because sporting events of the highest level are constantly held here. Nevertheless, the main city of the country should look worthy in the eyes of the world sports community, so even today the scope of work remains very extensive. The plan for preparing the capital for the World Cup includes the following items:
- modernization of the Luzhniki stadium, which will be the arena for the first and final matches of the world football tournament. Undoubtedly, Luzhniki already now meet the highest qualification requirements, it was not for nothing that back in 2008 they were awarded the status of "elite" according to the UEFA system. Nevertheless, they decided to make the stadium even better - an investment of 350 million euros will allow changing the turf to natural, modernizing ventilation systems and increase the number of seats to 81 thousand, which will allow Luzhniki to claim the status of the best European sports complex. Another main stadium of the capital, Spartak, is already ready to accommodate 45,000 fans. Both stadiums in Moscow will become the main locations for not only the opening match and the final football battle, but will also host 7 group stage games, two matches of the 1/8 finals and a semi-final game;
- the entire territory of Moscow will be covered by Wi-Fi. According to the statements of the organizing committee for the preparation of the capital for the 2018 World Cup, active negotiations are underway with operator companies on this issue, because guests, media representatives and local football fans will need excellent communication in order to quickly transfer huge arrays of videos and photos from the scene;
- most of the street names, signs, logistic tables and illuminated information boards in the metro will receive duplication of inscriptions on English language. To secure the guests, they will be offered to download the most detailed electronic atlas of the capital, which is currently under development;
- not every guest of the 2018 World Cup is able to rent a room in expensive metropolitan hotels, so a “football village” is being set up for fans, capable of providing economy class housing to about 15 thousand fans. Moreover, these will not be just houses for living, but a well-maintained place near the embankment with recreation areas, jogging and bicycle paths.
Presumably, carrying out all the activities to prepare the capital for the World Cup will require investments in the amount of 155 billion rubles, most of which will be spent on the reconstruction of stadiums and repair of the road surface.
Nizhny Novgorod
The concept of the stadium in Nizhny Novgorod for the 2018 World Cup The authorities report that the city is preparing to host the 2018 World Cup according to the planned plan, which includes the following items:
- construction of the Volga Arena, capable of accommodating 45,000 fans. The work related to the preparation of the foundation was completed back in 2015, last year was spent on the construction of tiered structures and the assembly of metal supports, in 2017 the contractor must complete the laying of the coating, bring communications and improve the territory. In parallel with these works, a tunnel will be laid for a new metro station, which will allow access to the venue of the matches;
- introduction of a new waste sorting system. The city authorities organized the installation of special containers for various types of waste (glass, paper, food waste, plastic). In parallel with this, work is underway to weld the garbage chutes existing in the houses;
- The city has many high-end chain hotels, including the Hilton, Kempinski, Marriott and Park Inn. Initially, the list was planned to be supplemented with new hotels in the number of 25 pieces. Nevertheless, the crisis forced the authorities to reconsider the distribution of investments - the city can make do with existing hotels, identifying suitable ones in terms of comfort level and class;
- the fleet will be renewed by purchasing four dozen new buses and increasing the number of metro trains to 29;
- construction of a building of a modern customs complex.
As for the cost of the announced projects, the city will have to receive about 17 billion rubles for their implementation, most of this amount (15.8 billion rubles) will be allocated by the federal budget, about 754 million will be promised by the regional authorities, the rest of the costs will be covered by private investments .
The gross part of the costs will have to be invested in the construction of the stadium - these works are estimated at about 5 billion rubles. The development of the subway will cost about 885 million, the modernization of the hotel complex will cost 637 million national currency. The city will host four games of the Mundial group stage. In addition, they talk about the possibility of holding 1/8 and 1/4 final football battles.
Rostov-on-Don
Sports arena project in Rostov-on-Don After the final list of cities hosting the 2018 World Cup games was approved, the authorities of Rostov-on-Don began to develop a plan of necessary measures. Literally at the end of 2015, this list began to be implemented in the context of individual projects, which include:
- construction of a new sports arena that can accommodate 45,000 fans. The arena will require funding in the amount of 19.3 billion rubles. After the end of the World Cup, it will become a location for the games of the local football club Rostov. According to the current state of affairs, the work is proceeding according to schedule - the contractor promises to hand over the stadium by the fall of 2017. The Lokomotiv stadium, which is currently undergoing a complete modernization, will be allocated as a base for training;
- checking the state of the hotel infrastructure, building new hotels and improving the comfort of old ones. By the beginning of the 2018 World Cup, the number of rooms will be approximately 8 thousand rooms, which will accommodate everyone who wants to cheer for the teams, as well as the refereeing staff and media representatives;
- construction of a new airport and Yuzhny logistics complex, which will be built according to the latest technical solutions. This construction will require investments in the amount of 37 billion rubles;
- reconstruction of the city embankment, creation of new parking lots, bicycle paths, as well as duplication of city information in English.
Samara
The construction of the Samara Arena is accompanied by constant scandals This city is the most heard by the public. Unfortunately, not because of the excellent pace of preparation, but because of the scandals. The initially conceived project amazed the imagination with the declared technical solutions. The first developer to contract undertook a project that included an ultra-modern infrared heating system for 45,000 seats, a lawn heating system and 12,000 VIP seats in a sports complex that was supposed to occupy 930 hectares of area!
Nevertheless, plans collapsed one after another: first, they changed the location, since the arrow of the Volga and Samara was located at a considerable distance from the city's infrastructure. Then the budget began to grow rapidly. The developer company kept asking for additional financing, and the amounts increased from 13 to 18.2 billion rubles.
In the process of monitoring, it turned out that approximately 40% of the object consists of commercial areas, which have little relation to the functions of the tadion. The city authorities decided to terminate the contract with PSO Kazan, replacing the company with a new contractor who will have to meet the reduced budget. The FIFA Commission has not yet made sharp conclusions. It is stated that, in general, what she sees satisfies her, but the question of Samara's readiness to host the 2018 World Cup remains open. In addition to this project, the city is implementing:
- installation of a new tramway connecting sports facilities with the railway station building. The work on the implementation of the new plan for passenger transportation, the laying of power lines and the laying of the canvas are estimated as a whole at 21 billion rubles;
- work on the modernization of berths and the fleet of ships, which will eventually provide tourists with leisure activities. According to the plan of the mayors, the Frunzensky bridge will have to be built over the Volga, which will allow direct access from Samara to Novokuibyshevsk;
- construction of an air terminal in Kurumoch, which will enable the airport to handle up to 40 million passengers a year.
St. Petersburg
"Zenith Arena" in St. Petersburg is almost completed - internal work is underway Northern Palmyra, like Moscow, belongs to the category of cities that have quite a decent base for hosting the 2018 World Cup. The city, which is visited annually by hundreds of thousands of tourists, is almost completely equipped with signs in English, has ready-made electronic circuits for visitors, and is characterized by excellent transport and hotel infrastructure. Nevertheless, the preparation plan for the World Cup provides for several important activities, which include:
- completion of the construction of the Zenith Arena on Krestovsky Island. This project belongs to the category of very protracted ones - the expensive stadium was built for more than one year, constantly pushing back the deadlines for commissioning. The 2018 World Cup forced to speed up the construction of the sports complex. Nevertheless, it was not without delays again - the final date was May 27, 2016, but only at the end of December it was decided to put the arena into operation. Today, landscaping work is being carried out around it, and interior decoration has finally begun. They promise to demonstrate the final readiness of the facility at the Confederations Cup in early June 2018. By the same date, a pedestrian-vehicle bridge will be ready, which will connect the facility directly with Yakhtennaya Street;
- carrying out activities for the development of the hotel business. Most of the hotels in St. Petersburg are quite expensive, but there are frankly not enough hotels with 2-3 stars. In this regard, the mayors decided to build a couple of dozen hotels of economy class;
- modernization of the air communication system at Pulkovo in order to create comfortable conditions for fans moving around Russia. Both terminals will be connected by a glass walkway so that fans arriving on domestic and international flights can move freely between them;
- as part of the improvement of the transport infrastructure from the airport to the city, it is planned to launch an aeroexpress train.
As a result, the total investment required to carry out all the preparatory activities is estimated at about 95 billion rubles, and about half of them will be "eaten" by the construction of the Zenit Arena.
Saransk
Saransk stadium began to be built in 2011 and is almost ready Of the entire list of cities, Saransk is the smallest, which gives rise to a significant number of problems. The city, which definitely cannot be called the tourist Mecca of Russia, is characterized by an underdeveloped transport and hotel infrastructure, which will require serious financial investments. The main preparations for the 2018 World Cup are as follows:
- improvement of the air traffic situation. FIFA requirements say that the airport of the city hosting the Mundial matches should have a capacity of 1365 people per hour, and the air gates of Saransk could only provide passage for 275 passengers. However, it is not advisable to build a new building in the city, therefore, for the duration of the World Cup, they will simply add another temporary terminal here, which will be dismantled at the end of this sporting event;
- completion of the construction of the stadium. The Saransk arena began to be built even before it became known that the main world football competition would be held in Russia. Work on the construction of the stadium was carried out at a very leisurely pace, and for some time they were generally frozen. With the start of preparations for the World Cup, construction has gone at a rapid pace - today the project is almost ready, it remains to supplement the arena with parking lots, trading floors and new hotels. In addition, two additional training bases are being built;
- improving the state of the hotel infrastructure, for which the leadership of Saransk signed an agreement with the British company Snoozebox, which will supply mobile hotels in the city. The construction of a new number of rooms is completely unprofitable for the city, since after the end of the period of matches they will definitely stand empty. Modular collapsible hotels can have thousands of rooms, include a bar and restaurant with TV screens;
- reconstruction of the roadbed and creation of a green zone in the form of a landscape park.
Sochi
Fisht stadium in Sochi is undergoing reconstruction Sochi can safely claim the title of a unique city in the list of those who are preparing to host the World Cup games. Only in it all the objects of tourist and sports infrastructure are completely ready, so the amount of investment, in comparison with other locations, is more than modest - about 2.3 billion rubles will be required. The city will host four matches of the group stage of the 2018 World Cup, as well as two games of the 1/8 and 1/4 finals of the World Cup.
Of course, some work to improve existing facilities is still planned. For example, the Fisht Arena, which was built for the 2014 Olympic Games, will be reconstructed. The sports facility was not then conceived as a football stadium, so a small upgrade is needed to accommodate another 5,000 spectators in addition to the existing 40,000 seats.
The 2018 World Cup will be hosted by 11 cities in Russia, which were chosen by FIFA and the organizers of the 2018 World Cup to host football matches and other official events of the tournament. The list of stadiums is slightly wider than the list of cities, since Moscow is represented by two arenas: Luzhniki and Otkritie Arena.
How was the choice of cities hosting the World Cup
Initially, 13 cities applied to host matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which were divided into 5 clusters based on the territorial basis: Central, North-West, Volzhsky, South and Ural. During the initial preparation, the option with Podolsk was dropped, since the governor of the Moscow region, Boris Gromov, considered participation in the project too costly for the region.
Then there was an option to add Voronezh to the list of cities at the personal request of Sergei Fursenko, but the official application had been made up by that time, and soon the organizing committee announced the main candidates to drop out of it: Saransk, Volgograd, Yaroslavl, Rostov-on-Don and Kaliningrad. These cities were considered the least attractive from a tourist point of view.
There were no questions only to five cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi, Kazan and Yekaterinburg. Krasnodar and Samara were ready to host the World Cup, but in the end, when the official verdict of the organizing committee was announced, the news sounded like a bolt from the blue that Krasnodar was expelled along with the original outsider Yaroslavl.
2018 World Cup Host Cities
Moscow
Moscow will be represented at the 2018 World Cup by two stadiums: the main national arena, Luzhniki, and the Spartak stadium, Otkritie Arena, which will use its non-commercial name Spartak for the duration of the World Cup.
Moscow is one of the most attractive cities for tourists, where you can not only watch football, but also have fun, exciting and informative time. Many museums, entertainment venues, hotels and hostels for every taste and budget, as well as the opportunity to visit two stadiums at once and convenient transport interchange - fans of the teams that will play in the Russian capital will undoubtedly be lucky.
Luzhniki will host the opening match of the World Cup, where the Russian team will play, as well as several group round matches, 1/8 finals, semi-finals and finals. The Spartak Stadium will host group matches and the 1/8 finals.
St. Petersburg
Northern Palmyra will become the second city that is extremely attractive from a tourist point of view. Matches in St. Petersburg will be held at the long-suffering arena on Krestovsky Island, called the St. Petersburg Arena, with a capacity of 68,172 spectators for World Cup matches, 56,196 people for matches and 80,000 for concert events in the city. There are suspicions that Krestovsky is the most expensive football stadium in history, its estimate has changed several times, the deadlines have been constantly postponed, and the builders with great difficulty met the opening of the Confederations Cup-2017, leaving a number of shortcomings “for later”.
St. Petersburg, as the host country of the championship, is ideal for northern European teams that will play in their usual cool climate. From a tourist point of view - St. Petersburg is a city of exceptional attraction for all guests of the World Cup. There will be group round matches, 1/8 finals, semi-finals and a match for third place.
Nizhny Novgorod - ancient city, rich in sights and located at the confluence of two great Russian rivers - the Oka and the Volga. It is in this place, called Strelka, that the new stadium Nizhny Novogod Arena is being built, where the Olimpiets club will play.
The stadium has a capacity of 45,000 spectators during the World Championship, it will host the group round matches, one round of 16 match (between the best team in group C and the second place from D), as well as the quarterfinals.
Kazan
Kazan is the ancient capital of Tatarstan, a city located on the left bank of the Volga and considered the third capital of Russia, with which Nizhny Novgorod constantly argues. Kazan is the sports center of Russia with ideal conditions for the development of football, hockey, basketball and other sports.
The venue for the matches will be the Kazan Arena. A stadium with a capacity of 45,000 spectators, where Rubin Kazan plays its home matches - a former champion of Russia and a well-known club in Europe that beat Barcelona and loudly declared itself in the Champions League. The stadium hosted the 2013 Summer Universiade and the 2015 FINA World Championships.
Kazan Arena will host the group stage matches, the 1/8 final match between the winner of group D and the second place in group C, as well as one of the quarterfinal matches.
Sochi
There is no need to present Sochi as a city hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup matches. Sports fans will remember that it was here that the 2014 Winter Olympics took place. And although there are no great football traditions in Sochi, this city could not be left on the sidelines, as it is the official resort capital of Russia.
They try to hold world football championships in places that are interesting for fans not only for football, but also for other attractions, and Sochi is a visiting card of the Russian south. In the summer of 2018, it will be hot here not only because of football battles. Teams that are lucky enough to play at the Fisht stadium will appreciate the warm climate, and their fans will appreciate the beaches of Sochi.
Like Kazan with Nizhnip Novgorod, Sochi will be the venue for the group round matches, the 1/8 finals (1st place in group A - 2nd place in group B), as well as the quarterfinal match.
Samara constantly risked being left without a championship, but stayed on the coveted bid list, ahead of Yaroslavl and Krasnodar even without a ready stadium.
Samara Arena is still under construction with a design capacity of 45,000 spectators, which gives it the right to host matches not only in the group round, but also in the 1/8 finals (1st place in group E - 2nd place in group F) and the quarterfinals.
Kaliningrad
Kaliningrad is the most convenient place for European teams, as it is the westernmost city in the world championship, and it is also located very close to Germany and Poland, whose teams really want to play there.
Kaliningrad Stadium or Arena Baltika will have a capacity of 35,000 fans and will be home to the Baltika football club, which currently plays in the Football National League but has prospects for promotion to the Premier League. The stadium will host only group stage matches in 2018.
Rostov-on-Don
In Rostov-on-Don, the participants of the world football forum will feel comfortable due to the proximity of the sea and the warm climate. World Cup matches will be held at the Rostov Arena stadium under construction, where he will then play in.
The stadium's estimated capacity of 45,000 spectators gives it the right to host not only group matches, but also the 1/8 final match, where the winner of group G and the second team from group H will play each other.
Volgograd
Volgograd Arena is another stadium where only group round matches will be played. Tentatively, after the end of the world forum, Volgograd Rotor, which is now in the FNL, will play here.
Saransk
The most controversial venue for the World Cup is the capital of Mordovia, Saransk, which has the least tourist attraction for Russian guests among all the cities chosen for the presentation of the country. Mordovia Arena will become the home of FC Mordovia, and during the championship only group stage matches will be held there.
Yekaterinburg is the easternmost city of the World Cup where only group round matches will be played. Now the arena of the football club "Ural" is under reconstruction and its capacity by the beginning of the world forum will increase to 35,000.
Russian fans of the king of team sports are looking forward to next year: the 2018 FIFA World Cup will be held in our country. The organizers are planning a record attendance of matches - one million fans. The list of championship cities has already been determined and sports facilities are being prepared.
FIFA World Cup: datesA total of 64 matches will take place within the World Cup. The group stage will run from 14 to 28 June. The opening match will take place on June 14 at Luzhniki. Table: Group stage fixtures
Further, on June 29, there is a day of rest for athletes and fans, and starts on the 30th? final. On the same day matches will take place in Kazan at 17.00 and in Sochi at 21.00. Two matches will be held on July 1: in Moscow (Luzhniki) at 17.00 and in Nizhny Novgorod at 21.00. Matches on July 2 will be held in Rostov-on-Don (21.00) and Samara (18.00). In Moscow (Spartak) on July 3 at 21.00 and in St. Petersburg at 17.00 the final meetings of the semi-finals will be held. The next four games for reaching the semi-finals will take place:
The semi-final games are scheduled for July 10-11. They will be held respectively in St. Petersburg and Moscow at the Luzhniki Stadium at 21.00. The match for the third place will take place in St. Petersburg on 14.07 at 17.00, and the final game in the capital on 15.07 at 18.00 at the Luzhniki stadium. On this day, the 2018 FIFA World Cup champion team will be announced. Where will the championship be held: cities and stadiums
The following stadiums will host the 2018 World Cup:
Preparation of facilities for the World Cup is nearing completion. Fans are looking forward to 2018. |
