OVERVIEW: All 12 Russia 2018 World Cup Stadiums
Apr 8, 2018, by Ilya
Matches 2018 World Cup will be held in 11 cities in 12 stadiums. Some of them were reconstructed, and some are specially designed for the competition. Let's take a look at All Russia 2018 World Cup Stadiums.
01. Luzhniki Stadium
Capacity: 81006 seats.
Matches:
14 June 2018 18:00 – Russia vs Saudi Arabia – Group A
17 June 2018 18:00 – Germany vs Mexico – Group F
20 June 2018 15:00 – Portugal vs Morocco – Group B
26 June 2018 17:00 – Denmark vs France – Group C
1 July 2018 17:00 – 1B vs 2A – Round of 16
11 July 2018 21:00 – W59 vs W60 – Semi Final
15 July 2018 18:00 – W61 vs W62 – Final
Luzhniki is the main sports arena of Russia. His heart is the bowl of the Grand Sports Arena, which hosted the biggest events in the world of sports and culture. So, in the chronicle of the stadium are the 1980 Olympics, the Champions League final in 2008, the Rugby World Cup-7, the World Athletics Championships, The Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, U2 and Red Hot Chili Peppers. On the eve of the World Championship, the stadium underwent another reconstruction, the main task of which was the creation of comfortable conditions for playing football and attending matches by all categories of spectators.
02. Spartak Stadium
Capacity: 45360 seats.
Matches:
16 June 2018 16:00 – Argentina vs Iceland – Group D
19 June 2018 15:00 – Poland vs Senegal – Group H
23 June 2018 15:00 – Belgium vs Tunisia – Group B
26 June 2018 17:00 – Serbia vs Brazil – Group C
3 July 2018 21:00 – 1H vs 2G – Round of 16
One of the most popular clubs in the country - Spartak Moscow - since its founding in 1922 did not have its own stadium. The club played home matches at the Luzhniki stadium. In 2006 the club was allocated land in the area of Tushino airfield, and the long-awaited construction began. Finally, only in 2014, the stadium opened its doors to fans, becoming one of the most comfortable and technological in the country. Not surprisingly, it was here that the matches of the Confederations Cup took place in the summer of 2017.
03. Saint Petersburg Stadium
Capacity: 68172 seats.
Matches:
15 June 2018 17:00 – Morocco vs Iran – Group B
19 June 2018 21:00 – Russia vs Egypt – Group A
22 June 2018 15:00 – Brazil vs Costa Rica – Group E
26 June 2018 21:00 – Nigeria vs Argentina – Group D
3 July 2018 17:00 – 1F vs 2E – Round of 16
10 July 2018 21:00 – W57 vs W58 – Semi Final
14 July 2018 17:00 – L61 vs L62 – Third Place
The competition for the construction of the stadium was won by the project of the famous Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa, the creator of general plans for several large cities, including the new capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, as well as the Oita and Toyota arenas in his homeland. Initially, it was stated that the construction will cost 6.7 billion rubles, but later this amount rose to 48 billion rubles (83 million dollars). Despite the reputation of long-term construction and corruption acquired over the years, "Krestovsky" has become a unique construction of its kind. Firstly, the field of the arena can be rolled out beyond its limits to ventilate the lawn and not spoil it during concerts and other events. Secondly, the stadium is equipped with a sliding roof. Zenit, who plays his home matches here received the rights to fully use the stadium Saint Petersburg Stadium for a period of 49 years.
04. Kazan Arena
Capacity: 45379 seats.
Matches:
16 June 2018 13:00 – France vs Australia – Group C
20 June 2018 21:00 – Iran vs Spain – Group B
24 June 2018 21:00 – Poland vs Colombia – Group H
27 June 2018 17:00 – Korea Republic vs Germany – Group F
30 June 2018 17:00 – 1C vs 2D – Round of 16
6 July 2018 21:00 – W53 vs W54 – Quarter Final
The new stadium in Kazan was built in preparation for the World Summer Universiade - 2013. After the closing of the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow for reconstruction and before the commissioning of Saint Petersburg Stadium, it was Kazan Arena that remained the most capacious in Russia. In June 2017, the stadium hosted the Cup of Confederations. It is the home arena of "Rubin".
05. Ekaterinburg Arena
Capacity: 35696 seats.
Matches:
15 June 2018 17:00 – Egypt vs Uruguay – Group A
21 June 2018 17:00 – France vs Peru – Group C
24 June 2018 20:00 – Japan vs Senegal – Group H
27 June 2018 19:00 – Mexico vs Sweden – Group F
Ekaterinburg Arena was erected on the site of the former stadium "Central". A feature of the Ekaterinburg Arena is the temporary tribunes sticking out of the main contour of the stadium, which can accommodate up to 12,000 fans. The presence of these structures solves the problem with the requirements of FIFA to the number of seats - they should be 35 thousand. After the World Cup time structures will be dismantled, and the stadium will become the home arena of the football club "Ural".
06. Mordovia Arena
Capacity: 44149 seats.
Matches:
16 June 2018 19:00 – Peru vs Denmark – Group C
19 June 2018 18:00 – Colombia vs Japan – Group H
25 June 2018 21:00 – Iran vs Portugal – Group B
28 June 2018 21:00 – Panama vs Tunisia – Group G
Mordovia Arena was built in the floodplain of the river Insar in the smallest city of the World Cup - Saransk. The appearance of a modern football stadium was the impetus to the development of the entire infrastructure of the Mordovian capital. Next to the stadium, there were apartment houses, shopping centers, and modern parks. According to the idea of the architects, the new stadium should resemble the red sun. Thus, its creators paid tribute to the history of the republic, in the center of the flag is a solar sign - a traditional for the ancient peoples.
07. Samara Arena
Capacity: 44918 seats.
Matches:
17 June 2018 16:00 – Costa Rica vs Serbia – Group E
21 June 2018 19:00 – Denmark vs Australia – Group C
25 June 2018 18:00 – Uruguay vs Russia – Group A
28 June 2018 18:00 – Senegal vs Colombia – Group H
2 July 2018 18:00 – 1E vs 2F – Round of 16
7 July 2018 18:00 – W55 vs W56 – Quarter Final
Samara Arena stands out against other stadiums of the World Cup 2018 with its unusual architecture with cosmic motives. The space theme for Samara was chosen not accidentally: it is in this city that the famous Progress plant, which produces Soyuz rockets, is located. Also in Samara was post-flight rehabilitation Yuri Gagarin. After the World Cup, the stadium will change its name to Cosmos Arena and will be given to the local football club FC Krylia Sovetov.
08. Fisht Stadium
Capacity: 41220 seats.
Matches:
15 June 2018 21:00 – Portugal vs Spain – Group B
18 June 2018 18:00 – Belgium vs Panama – Group G
23 June 2018 18:00 – Germany vs Sweden – Group F
26 June 2018 17:00 – Australia vs Peru – Group C
30 June 2018 21:00 – 1A vs 2B – Round of 16
7 July 2018 21:00 – W51 vs W52 – Quarter Final
The stadium, located in the Olympic Park of Sochi, was built for the Winter Games of 2014. Then, in February, there were the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics. For the 2018 FIFA World Cup, a small reconstruction was carried out at the stadium: temporary stands were erected outside the gates; during the Olympics, technical premises were located at this place, so the capacity increased to 45,000 spectators. Name "Fisht" originated from the mountain of the same name in the western part of the Main Caucasian ridge.
09. Rostov Arena
Capacity: 45000 seats.
Matches:
17 June 2018 21:00 – Brazil vs Switzerland – Group E
20 June 2018 18:00 – Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia – Group A
23 June 2018 21:00 – Korea Republic vs Mexico – Group F
26 June 2018 21:00 – Iceland vs Croatia – Group D
2 July 2018 21:00 – 1G vs 2H – Round of 16
The new sports facility on the map of Rostov was located on the left bank of the Don, where for its erection was washed a special sand cushion. As in the construction of the Volgograd Arena, during the preparation of the ground for the new stadium, five shells of the Second World War, preserved almost in its original form, were discovered. After holding the World Cup, stadium capacity will decrease to 38 thousand, the arena will become home for the football club "Rostov".
10. Kaliningrad Stadium
Capacity: 35000 seats.
Matches:
16 June 2018 21:00 – Croatia vs Nigeria – Group D
22 June 2018 20:00 – Serbia vs Switzerland – Group E
25 June 2018 20:00 – Spain vs Morocco – Group B
28 June 2018 20:00 – England vs Belgium – Group G
The basis was taken by the famous Bavarian "Allianz Arena", which hosted the World Cup 2006. For reasons of economy, it was also decided to abandon the sliding roof, it was replaced by a customary visor. After the World Cup, the stadium will be home to the local football club "Baltika", the capacity of the arena will be reduced to 25 thousand, and the natural field will be replaced with an artificial surface.
11. Nizhny Novgorod Stadium
Capacity: 45000 seats.
Matches:
18 June 2018 15:00 – Sweden vs Korea Republic – Group F
21 June 2018 21:00 – Argentina vs Croatia – Group D
24 June 2018 15:00 – England vs Panama – Group G
27 June 2018 21:00 – Switzerland vs Costa Rica – Group E
1 July 2018 21:00 – 1D vs 2C – Round of 16
6 July 2018 17:00 – W49 vs W50 – Quarter Final
Not far from the football arena is the Cathedral of the Savior, built in the XIX century. To the stadium organically looked in this important place for the city, it was designed in a strict style. It is made in blue and white tones, symbolizing the wind and water. After the World Cup, the capacity of the arena will be reduced by 10 thousand seats, and it will become home for the Nizhny Novgorod football club "Olimpiets".
12. Volgograd Arena
Capacity: 45000 seats.
Matches:
18 June 2018 21:00 – Tunisia vs England – Group G
22 June 2018 18:00 – Nigeria vs Iceland – Group D
25 June 2018 17:00 – Saudi Arabia vs Egypt – Group A
28 June 2018 17:00 – Japan vs Poland – Group H
Volgograd Arena appeared on the site of the former stadium of the city football club Rotor. With the demolition of the old building and the dismantling of underground structures, the structures found many combat shells that survived from the time of the Great Patriotic War. This fact is easy to explain: the stadium is located not far from Mamayev Kurgan - hills on the right bank of the Volga, where one of the episodes of the Battle of Stalingrad unfolded.
Which stadium did you like the most? Do you plan to visit the 2018 World Cup. Write the comments below.
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