FIFA

World
Cup
2018
Stadium
s

Table of Contents
Moscow___________________________________________________________________2
Saint Petersburg_____________________________________________________________3
Sochi______________________________________________________________________4
Ekaterinburg________________________________________________________________5
Kazan_____________________________________________________________________6
Nizhny Novgorod____________________________________________________________7
Rostov-on-Don______________________________________________________________9
Samara___________________________________________________________________10
Saransk___________________________________________________________________11
Volgograd_________________________________________________________________12
Otkritie___________________________________________________________________13
Kaliningrad________________________________________________________________14
Table of Figures____________________________________________________________15
SUMMARY________________________________________________________________15

2
Moscow
Luzhniki Stadium

Figure A Luzhniki Stadium

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

Key facts
Club: none - Opening: 1956 - Capacity: 81,006 seats

History and description

Luzhniki Stadium, initially called Central Lenin Stadium, was built between 1955 and 1956. It
was the result of the ambition of the Soviet leadership to upgrade the country’s sports
facilities after the Soviet Union had tasted its first post-war successes at the 1952 Olympics.

Works on Luzhniki Olympic Complex started in 1954 and construction of its centrepiece
stadium, also called the Grand Sports Arena, in 1955. The stadium got finished in just 450
days and officially opened on 31 July 1956.

Luzhniki Stadium served as the centrepiece stadium of the 1980 Olympics, hosting the
opening and closing ceremonies, athletics events, football finals, and equestrian
programme.

In 1982, a stadium disaster took place at the stadium during a second round UEFA Cup
match between FC Spartak and Dutch side HFC Haarlem. In the dying seconds of the match,
people started rushing for the exits to make it to the metro before the rest of the crowd.
When someone fell on the icy staircases, chaos ensued, and the resulting crush and domino
effect killed 66 people.
Until the 1990s, the roofless stadium could hold just over 100,000 spectators. In 1996, the
stadium got extensively renovated, which included the construction of a roof over the
stands and the refurbishment of the seating areas, which resulted in a decrease of capacity.

In 1999, Luzhniki Stadium hosted the UEFA Cup final between Parma and Marseille (3-0),
and in 2008 the Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea (1-1).

The stadium was regularly used by Spartak Moscow, lacking a home of their own, until they
moved to the newly built Otkritie Arena 2014.

Luzhniki Stadium got selected to host the final of the 2018 World Cup, and as a result had to
undergo a large redevelopment. It hosted its last football match in May 2013 and closed
following the IAAF Athletics World Championships in August 2013.

Redevelopment works entailed the complete reconstruction of the stands, now divided over
two tiers, the removal of the running tracks, and an expanded roof structure. The
characteristic exterior of the stadium has remained intact. Works were completed in the
summer of 2017, and the first football match at the reopened stadium, a friendly between
Russia and Argentina (0-1), was played on 11 November 2017.

Apart from the final, Luzhniki will also host the opening match, three further first round
group matches, a round of 16 match, and a semi-final.

Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg Stadium

Figure B Saint Petersburg Stadium

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

4
Key facts
Club: FC Zenit - Opening: 2017 - Capacity: 56,196 seats

History and description

Saint Petersburg Stadium, also referred to as Zenit Arena, Krestovsky Stadium, and Piter
Arena, is the recently opened new stadium of FC Zenit. It got built at the site of the former
Kirov Stadium.

Planning for the new stadium began late 2005, and first construction works started by the
end of 2008. The stadium was initially planned to be completed in 2009, but works
were hampered by a series of delays, including a redesign to comply with FIFA requirements
and fraud investigations.

Saint Petersburg Stadium was initially to be funded by Russian gas firm Gazprom, however
after they pulled out the project was taken over by the St. Petersburg city government.
Works finally sped up in 2016 and the stadium was completed in April 2017, however overall
costs had soared past $1 billion, which made it one of the most expensive stadiums ever
built.

The first official match at Saint Petersburg Stadium was played on 22 April 2017 when Zenit
hosted Ural for a league match (2-0).

The stadium has been designed by Japanese architecture firm Kisho Kurokawa and
resembles the form of a spaceship with the roof held up by four masts. It has some
similarities with that of the Japanese Toyota Stadium, which was designed by the same firm.

Saint Petersburg Stadium is going to be one of the playing venues of the 2018 World Cup in
Russia, during which it will host four first round group matches, a quarter final, a semi final,
and the match for third place. It also hosted four matches during the 2017 Confederations
Cup, including the final.

Capacity of the stadium has been reduced to 56,196 for regular league matches, but will be
increased to around 68,000 for the World Cup.

Sochi
Fisht Stadium
Figure C Fisht Stadium

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

Key facts
Club: none - Opening: 2013 - Capacity: 47,659 seats

History and description

Fisht Olympic Stadium was built to serve as the centrepiece venue of the 2014 Sochi Winter
Olympics. During the Olympics, it hosted both the opening and closing ceremony.

The stadium lacked a purpose following the Games, but was selected as one of the playing
venues of the 2018 World Cup. For this, the closed roof had to be opened up, and additional
seating was placed to boost capacity with a little over 6,000 seats. Works were completed in
late 2016.

During the 2018 World Cup, Fisht Olympic Stadium will host four first round group games,
one round of 16 match, and one quarter-final.

Fisht Olympic Stadium is also one of the playing venues of the 2017 Confederations Cup,
including one of the two semi-finals.

Ekaterinburg
Ekaterinburg Arena

Figure D Ekanterinburg Arena

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

6
Key facts
Club: FC Ural - Opening: 1957 - Capacity: 45,000 seats

History and description

The Ekaterinburg Arena, then still called Central Stadium, was built between 1953 and 1957.
The stadium was initially a multi-sports arena, also hosting athletics and ice skating events.

Central Stadium, with a capacity of 27,000, remained largely unchanged in the next decades
until plans were made in the mid 2000s to extensively redevelop the stadium. Works started
in 2007, and, after multiple delays, were completed in 2011, giving the stadium an extensive
make-over, but keeping the athletics track and sticking with a similar capacity as before.

Round the same time, Russia got awarded the 2018 World Cup, and soon after
Yekaterinburg was shortlisted as one of the host cities for the tournament, which got
confirmed in 2012.

Unfortunately, the recently renovated Central Stadium did not meet FIFA standards, and
thus new redevelopment plans had to be made. The protected external facade would have
to be preserved, but otherwise the entire interior had to get rebuilt, boosting capacity to
45,000 seats.

It took a long time for the project to be given the go ahead, even casting doubts on
Yekaterinburg’s status as a host city, but building works eventually kicked off in the spring of
2015. The new and rebranded Ekaterinburg Arena is expected to be completed in December
2017.

During the 2018 World Cup, the Ekaterinburg Arena will host four first round group games.
After the World Cup, capacity will be reduced to 35,000 seats by removing the temporary
seating behind both goals.

Kazan
Kazan Arena

Kazan Arena
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

Key facts
Club: FC Rubin Kazan - Opening: 2013 - Capacity: 45,000 seats

History and description

The Kazan Arena was built to provide Rubin with a modern home, to serve as the
main venue of the 2013 Summer Universiade, and to be one of the playing venues of the
2018 World Cup.

Construction of the stadium started in May 2010 and was completed in early 2013. The
Kazan Arena first opened for the opening ceremony of the 27th Summer Universiade, and
eleven days later also hosted the closing ceremony.

Further improvement works were performed after the Universiade and subsequent pitch
problems meant that the first football match wasn’t played until 26 May 2014 when Russia
and Slovakia squared off in a friendly.

In 2015, the stadium hosted the FINA World Aquatics Championships, for which the football
pitch was replaced by two swimming pools.

The Kazan Arena has furthermore been selected as one of the playing venues of the 2018
World Cup, during which it will host four first round group games, one round of 16 games,
and one quarter-final.

The arena is also one of the four playing venues of the 2017 Confederations Cup.

Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod Stadium

Figure E Nizhny Novgorod Stadium

8
Matches:
18 June 2018 1 5:00 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

Key facts
Club: none - Opening: 1956 - Capacity: 81,006 seats

History and description

Luzhniki Stadium, initially called Central Lenin Stadium, was built between 1955 and 1956. It
was the result of the ambition of the Soviet leadership to upgrade the country’s sports
facilities after the Soviet Union had tasted its first post-war successes at the 1952 Olympics.

Works on Luzhniki Olympic Complex started in 1954 and construction of its centrepiece
stadium, also called the Grand Sports Arena, in 1955. The stadium got finished in just 450
days and officially opened on 31 July 1956.

Luzhniki Stadium served as the centrepiece stadium of the 1980 Olympics, hosting the
opening and closing ceremonies, athletics events, football finals, and equestrian
programme.

In 1982, a stadium disaster took place at the stadium during a second round UEFA Cup
match between FC Spartak and Dutch side HFC Haarlem. In the dying seconds of the match,
people started rushing for the exits to make it to the metro before the rest of the crowd.
When someone fell on the icy staircases, chaos ensued, and the resulting crush and domino
effect killed 66 people.

Until the 1990s, the roofless stadium could hold just over 100,000 spectators. In 1996, the
stadium got extensively renovated, which included the construction of a roof over the
stands and the refurbishment of the seating areas, which resulted in a decrease of capacity.

In 1999, Luzhniki Stadium hosted the UEFA Cup final between Parma and Marseille (3-0),
and in 2008 the Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea (1-1).

The stadium was regularly used by Spartak Moscow, lacking a home of their own, until they
moved to the newly built Otkritie Arena 2014.

Luzhniki Stadium got selected to host the final of the 2018 World Cup, and as a result had to
undergo a large redevelopment. It hosted its last football match in May 2013 and closed
following the IAAF Athletics World Championships in August 2013.

Redevelopment works entailed the complete reconstruction of the stands, now divided over
two tiers, the removal of the running tracks, and an expanded roof structure. The
characteristic exterior of the stadium has remained intact. Works were completed in the
summer of 2017, and the first football match at the reopened stadium, a friendly between
Russia and Argentina (0-1), was played on 11 November 2017.

Apart from the final, Luzhniki will also host the opening match, three further first round
group matches, a round of 16 match, and a semi-final.

Rostov-on-Don
Rostov Arena

Figure F Rostov Arena

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

Key facts
Club: FC Rostov - Opening: 2018 - Capacity: 45,000 seats

History and description

The Rostov Arena is a recently opened new stadium in the city of Rostov-on-Don that was
built for the 2018 World Cup and will become the new home of FC Rostov.

Plans for the new stadium became concrete when Russia got awarded the 2018 World Cup
and Rostov-on-Don selected as a host city. The final design was chosen in December 2012
when Populous got selected as the architect.

First ground preparation works started in 2013, but it took until early 2015 for actual
foundation works to start. The stadium was expected to be completed in 2017, but the
opening got delayed to 2018. It officially opened on 15 April 2018 with a league match
between Rostov and Khabarovsk.

After the World Cup, the stadium will be scaled down to a capacity of 25,000.

10
The design of the stadium is inspired by the ancient mounts of earth, Kurgans, that can be
found in the region.

Samara
Samara Arena

Figure G Samara Arena

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

Key facts
Club: Krylia Sovetov - Capacity: 44,198 seats - Scheduled opening: 2017 - Status: under
construction

History and description

The Cosmos Arena, also known as Samara Arena or Samara Stadium, is the currently under
construction new home of Krylia Sovetov. The stadium is being built to serve as one of the
playing venues of the 2018 World Cup.

First plans for the new stadium were made around 2010, which became concrete when in
2012 the city of Samara got selected as one of the host cities of the World Cup. Works
started in the middle of 2014, and are scheduled to be completed in late 2017.

The most characteristic aspect of the Cosmos Arena is its 65.5 metres high dome roof, which
is made up out of 32 panels. The arena will boast just under 45,000 seats, which will be
divided over two tiers. The project is expected to come at a cost of $370 mln.

The Cosmos Arena was initially planned to be built on the tip of a peninsula where the
Samara and Volga rivers meet, however was moved to a site north of the city due to a lack
of infrastructure.
During the World Cup, the Cosmos Arena is scheduled to host four first round group
matches, one round of 16 match, and one quarter-final. The arena will furthermore become
the new home of local side Krylia Sovetov, replacing their current Metallurg Stadium.

Saransk
Mordovia Arena

Figure H Mordovia Arena

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

Key facts
Club: Mordovia Saransk - Capacity: 45,000 seats - Scheduled opening: 2017 - Status: under
construction

Description
The Mordovia Arena, earlier referred to as Stadion Yubileyny and also known as Saransk
Stadium, is the currently under construction new home of Mordovia Saransk and one of the
playing venues of the 2018 World Cup.

The stadium was first proposed in early 2010, and after various redesigns the first building
works began in late 2011. However, works progressed slowly, and with the first structures of
the lower tier barely up in 2012, the project stalled due to a lack of funding. Little activity
was recorded in the next two years, until works were picked up again in late 2014.

The stadium is scheduled to be completed in late 2017.

The Mordovia Arena will initially have a capacity of 45,000 seats for the World Cup, which
will be brought down to 28,000 seats after the World Cup by removing the upper tier and
turning it into a walking concourse.

During the World Cup, the Mordovia Arena will host four first round group matches. It is
also regularly referred to as Saransk Stadium in the context of the World Cup.

12
Volgograd
Volgograd Stadium

Figure I Volgograd Stadium

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

Key facts
Club: FC Rotor Volgograd - Capacity: 45,000 - Sched. opening: 2017 - Status: under
construction

Description
The Volgograd Arena is a currently under construction new stadium in the city of Volgograd
in southern Russia. It is built with the purpose of serving as one of the playing venues of the
2018 World Cup, and will become the new home of Rotor Volgograd after the tournament.

The stadium is built at the site of the former Central Stadium, which used to be Volgograd’s
principal stadium. Demolition of the old stadium started in late 2014, and construction of
the new arena got going in the spring of 2015. The stadium is expected to be completed in
late 2017.

The Volgograd Arena will have a capacity of 45,000 seats divided over two tiers. The cabled
roof and meshed exterior are the standout features of the arena. After the World Cup,
capacity will be reduced to 35,000 seats.

The Volgograd Arena is located on the banks of the Volga river just north of central
Volgograd at roughly 4 kilometres of the city’s main square, the Square of Fallen Fighters,
and the main railway station. It is bordering Volgograd’s main park, the Friendship Park, and
lies a short distance away from Volgograd’s main attraction: the Motherland Calls statue.

During the World Cup, the Volgograd Arena will host four first round group games.
Otkritie
Spartak Stadium

Figure J Spartak Stadium

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

Key facts
Club: FC Spartak Moscow - Opening: 2014 - Capacity: 45,360 seats

History and description

The Otkritie Arena is the recently opened new home of Spartak Moscow. In its history,
Spartak had never owned a proper stadium, using various stadiums around Moscow instead,
and ultimately playing at Luzhniki Stadium.

The club had been looking to build a new stadium from as early as the mid 1990s, but early
plans failed to materialise. The project of the Otkritie Arena became concrete in 2005 after
the club acquired a site at the Tushino Airfield grounds in the far north-west of Moscow.

Few progress was made in the following years, however the financial crisis in 2008 led to
significantly reduced construction costs, which in turn made getting funding
easier. Construction of the stadium finally started in July 2010.

Initial plans went for a stadium with about 35,000 seats, but this was later revised upwards
to 42,000 with an eye on the 2018 World Cup. The Otkritie Arena got subsequently
confirmed as the second Moscow playing venue besides Luzhniki Stadium, beating
Dynamo’s VTB Arena for the spot.

In February 2013, Spartak announced a naming rights deal with local bank Otkritie, resulting
in the name Otkritie Arena. The stadium officially opened on 5 September 2014 with a
friendly between Spartak and Red Star (1-1).

14
The Otkritie Arena was selected as one of the playing venues of the 2017 Confederations
Cup, hosting three first round group matches and the match for third place.

Kaliningrad
Kaliningrad Stadium

Figure K Kaliningrad Stadium

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

Key facts
Club: FC Baltika Kaliningrad - Opening: 2018 - Capacity: 35,212 seats

History and description

Kaliningrad Stadium, also known as the Arena Baltika, is a newly opened stadium in the city
of Kaliningrad. It was built to be one of the playing venues of the 2018 World Cup and the
new home of FC Baltika, who previously played at the modest Baltika Stadium.

Construction of Kaliningrad Stadium started in September 2015, making it the last Russia
World Cup to get under way. Delays had plagued the project, caused by financial difficulties
and the bankruptcy of the company responsible for the design.

Initial plans had aimed for a capacity of 45,000 and a retractable roof, but these had to get
scaled back to a simpler design with 35,000 seats, of which 10,000 will be removed after the
World Cup.

Kaliningrad Stadium eventually opened on 11 April 2018 with a league match between FC
Baltika and Krylia Sovetov (1-0).

During the World Cup, Kaliningrad Stadium is scheduled to host four first round group
matches.

Table of Figures
Figure A Luzhniki Stadium.....................................................................................................................2
Figure B Saint Petersburg Stadium........................................................................................................3
Figure C Fisht Stadium...........................................................................................................................5
Figure D Ekanterinburg Arena...............................................................................................................5
Figure F Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.......................................................................................................8
Figure G Rostov Arena...........................................................................................................................9
Figure H Samara Arena........................................................................................................................10
Figure I Mordovia Arena......................................................................................................................11
Figure J Volgograd Stadium.................................................................................................................12
Figure K Spartak Stadium.....................................................................................................................13
Figure L Kaliningrad Stadium...............................................................................................................14

SUMMARY
Stadium Club Opening Capacity (seats)
Totale kapasiteit/Total Capacity
Kaliningrad FC Baltika 2018 35212

Spartak FC Spartak Moscow 2014 45360

Volgograd FC Rotor Volgograd 2017 45000
Saransk Mordovia Saransk 2017 45000
Samara Krylia Sovetov 2017 44198
Rostov on Don FC Rostov 2018 45000
Nizhny Novgorod None 1956 81006
Kazan FC Rubin Kazan 2013 45000
Ekaterinburg FC Ural 1957 45000
Fisht none 2013 47659
Saint Petersburg FC Zenit 2017 56196

Luzhniki Stadium none 1956 81006

16