We’re going to know about Russia World Cup venues while they’re hosting FIFA World Cup 2018. In 12 venues, Russia is going to host 64 football matches of the tournament. Although there was much consternation either the venues would be completed or not, the venues are ready to host this summer’s World Cup football. This post is comprehensive of the World Cup 2018 venues that are proudly hosting the most prestigious event in the world of football. From the Baltic Sea’s Kaliningrad to Ekaterinburg, which is spread over 1800 miles – these 12 venues will host all of 64 matches across Russia.
The largest and newest venue as well that’s with the capacity of 81,000 in the old ground of Moscow is set to open in 2018. It’ll host the first opening match and the final one as well that’s starting from June 14, 2018. If you’re a regular reader of our blog, you know we have posted already the schedule and the latest squads updates of the Russia World Cup 2018.
Best Russia World Cup Venues of the World Cup 2018
As the domestic football leagues around the world do, the deep attention now shifts to Russia World Cup 2018. While you know Russia World Cup venues are ready to host 32 nations’ 64 matches along with 12 different venues across the country. These venues will be alive once again to host the greatest entertainment of football World Cup. Here is the best that Russia has to offer from artistic beauty to its architectural functionality. Thanks to the real pitch environments, national team banners, dressings, and high-resolution crowds because every venue will also be filled with the sights and sounds of the World Cup 2018. So, let’s know more about the Russia World Cup venues below in short.
Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
Quick Notes of the Luzhniki Stadium
- Location: Moscow that is Russia’s capital city and on the bank of the Moskva River.
- Capacity: 81,006*
- Opened: 1956 that is Re-opening after development work in 2018)
- Climate: Average highs of 23C and lows of 18C that is with a 50% chance of rain
- Time Zone: BST +2 hours
Background
The Luzhniki is the latest among the Russia World Cup Venues. It was named the Central Lenin Stadium initially that’s witnessed both triumph and horror. The venue was constructed in just 450 days between 1955 and 1956, which is a reflection of the rising ambitions of the then Soviet government when the Soviet Union’s athletes had returned from their first Olympics with 71 medals, in Helsinki in 1952. The stadium was the central venue of the 1980 Moscow Olympics with an initial capacity of just over 100,000 audiences. This is the stadium where Steve Ovett and Sebastian Coe staged their now legendary tussles over both 800m and 1500m and Allan Wells took 100m gold for Great Britain. But, two years later the tragedy struck when 66 people died in a rush for the exit during the closing stages of a UEFA Cup match.
After that tragedy, it was renovated during the 1990s when it was renamed Luzhniki, which is a rough translation of the Russian word for ‘Meadows’. It also refers to the flood-meadows on the curve of the Moskva River where the stadium is built. Since it has hosted the 1999 UEFA Cup final where Parma defeated Marseille and the 2008 Champions League final where Manchester United beat Chelsea on penalties. The stands have been divided into two tiers and athletics track removed, with the exterior of the stadium preserved during redevelopment work for the Russia World Cup 2018.
Spartak Stadium, Moscow
Quick Notes of the Spartak Stadium
- Capacity: 43,298*
- Location: North-west Moscow
- Opened: 2014
- Climate: Average highs of 23C and lows of 18C that is with a 50% chance of rain
- Time Zone: BST +2 hours
Background
Spartak Stadium changed from the Otkrytiye Arena which is its official title during the World Cup. This is the first permanent home of 22-time Soviet/Russian champions Spartak Moscow. Spartak played in a number of different venues in Moscow Prior to its opening in 2014, including the Luzhniki. the stadium hosted its first match on 5 September 2014 that is situated on the site of Moscow’s former airfield in the district of Tushino where Spartak drew 1-1 with Red Star Belgrade. Featuring with hundreds of connected diamonds, reminiscent of chainmail, it has an extraordinary exterior design of the stadium. Although these are colored the red and white of Spartak, these can be changed to reflect the teams playing.
Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod
Quick Notes of the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium
- Location: The administrative center that is of the Nizhegorod oblast (region)
- Capacity: 45,331*
- Time Zone: BST +2 hours
- Opening: 2018
- Climate: Average highs of 23C and lows of 13C that is with a 60% chance of rain
- Approximate distance from Moscow: 265 miles
Background
The Nizhny Novgorod Stadium draws on wind and water in its circular design, which is inspired by the aspects of nature in the Volga region where it’s located. It’s alive in what FIFA describe as a “semi-transparent undulating facade”. This is another best one among the Russia World Cup venues lights up at night same as the all good modern stadiums. The construction on the stadium began in 2015 on the west bank of the river Volga where it merges with the Oka, which is on a site in central Nizhny Novgorod. The FC Olimpiyets Nizhny Novgorod was formed in the same year. The club who set is to take over the ground after the World Cup.
Mordovia Arena, Saransk
Quick Notes of the Mordovia Arena
- Location: The south-east that is of Moscow
- Capacity: 44,442*
- Time Zone: BST +2 hours
- Opening: 2018
- Climate: Average highs of 23C and lows of 12C that is with a 33% chance of rain
- Approximate distance from Moscow: 400 miles
Background
Mordovia Arena promises to be one of the most colorful Russia World Cup venues along with its planned orange, red and white exterior. It’s located on the bank of the Insar River that is in the center of Saransk. On the 1,000th anniversary of the unification of the Mordovian people with Russia’s other ethnic groups, the ground was broken in 2010. as it initially has a capacity of 45,000 for the World Cup that is brought down to 28,000 after the event when removing the upper tier to make it into a walking concourse. After that, it’ll host FC Mordovia Saransk of the Russian Premier League, substituting their Start Stadium.
Kazan Arena, Kazan
Quick Notes of the Kazan Arena Stadium
- Location: The capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan that is east of Moscow.
- Capacity: 44,779*
- Time Zone: BST +2 hours
- Opened: 2013
- Climate: Average highs of 24C and lows of 14C that is with a 55% chance of rain
- Approximate distance from Moscow: 510 miles
Background
There is a good reason when the Kazan Arena has a familiar look to it. This is because Kazan Arena is one of the best Russia World Cup venues of football World Cup 2018. This is the stadium that was designed by the same firm of architects that supervise Arsenal’s Emirates and the new Wembley Stadium. Housing just under 45,000 people but remains impressive nonetheless that is on a smaller scale than the two London-based stadia. The ground has since been used as the home of Rubin Kazan when it’s completed in July 2013 to serve as the main venue of that year’s Summer Universiade. While it has also hosted some of the competitions at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships it might also be the most versatile venue at this summer’s World Cup. This is why the football pitch was replaced by two swimming pools.
Samara Arena, Samara
Quick Notes of the Samara Arena
- Location: Situated in the south-eastern part of European Russia.
- Capacity: 44,807*
- Time Zone: BST +3 hours
- Opening: 2018
- Climate: Average highs of 26C and lows of 16C that is with a 50% chance of rain
- Approximate distance from Moscow: 655 miles
Background
The Samara Arena locates on a near-deserted island to the south of the city when all goes according to the initial plans. The venue relocates north and inside city limits after much criticism and some common sense. It’s designed around the theme of space to reflect the region’s renowned aerospace sector with its metallic look, dome structure, and capacity to illuminate at night. After the world cup is over, it’ll be called as the Cosmos Arena. As it replaces their current Metallurg Stadium, it’ll then become the new home of local side Krylia Sovetov.
Ekaterinburg Arena, Ekaterinburg
Quick Notes of the Ekaterinburg Arena
- Location: Ekaterinburg is on the geographical borderline of Europe and Asia
- Capacity: 35,696*
- Time Zone: BST +4 hours
- Opening: 1953 (Temporary stands and roof installed for 2018)
- Climate: Average highs of 23C and lows of 13C that is with a 66% chance of rain
- Approximate distance from Moscow: 1,090 miles
Background
There are many Russia World Cup venues of the 2018 World Cup that have unique design elements. But, it’s the only one that has stands outside the stadium. This is the Ekaterinburg Arena that is a testament to the notion of necessity being the mother of invention. Ekaterinburg was faced with the dilemma of how to satisfy FIFA’s stipulation that venues house a minimum of 35,000 people when it was nominated as a host city. It was originally built between 1953 and 1957 and redeveloped between 2007 and 2011. Also, it initially was known as Central Stadium.
So, these are the top 7 Russia World Cup venues of the 2018 Football World Cup matches. There are more venues, such as Saint Petersburg Stadium, Kaliningrad Stadium, Volgograd Arena, Rostov Arena, and Fisht Stadium.
