Sports

Stadiums open for World Cup

AFP . Moscow

Although some pushed it down to the wire, all 12 stadiums have been completed in time for the 14 June to 15 July World Cup in Russia.

From Moscow's grand Luzhniki Stadium, which also hosted the 1980 Summer Olympics, to the worrisomely late Samara Arena, here is a look at where the football games will be played.

A picture taken on 23 May, 2018 shows the 80,000-seater Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow which will host seven World Cup matches including the opening game and the final. Photo: AFP
A picture taken on 23 May, 2018 shows the 80,000-seater Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow which will host seven World Cup matches including the opening game and the final. Photo: AFP

MOSCOW (Luzhniki Stadium)

Capacity: 80,000

Opening: 1956 (renovated 2017)

Estimated cost: $385 million (330 million euros)

Matches: 14 June - Russia vs Saudi Arabia; 17 June - Germany vs Mexico; 20 June - Portugal vs Morocco; 26 June - Denmark vs France; 1 July Round of 16; 11 July - Semi Final; 15 July - Final

The historic crucible of Soviet and Russian sport, Luzhniki is the national squad's home ground and venue for major political events, such as big speeches by President Vladimir Putin. It was gutted and rebuilt for the World Cup, turning it into a football-specific venue. Only its original facade remains.

A picture taken on 23 May, 2018 shows the 45,000-seater Spartak Stadium in Moscow which will host four group games and a Round of 16 match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup football tournament. Photo: AFP
A picture taken on 23 May, 2018 shows the 45,000-seater Spartak Stadium in Moscow which will host four group games and a Round of 16 match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup football tournament. Photo: AFP

MOSCOW (Spartak Stadium)

Capacity: 45,000

Opening: 2014

Estimated cost: $235 million

Matches: 16 June - Argentina vs Iceland, 19 June - Poland vs Senegal; 23 June - Belgium vs Tunisia; 26 June - Serbia vs Brazil; 3 July - Round of 16

Russia's most popular team by a wide margin, Spartak Moscow had no place to call home until the red and white arena opened to great fanfare four years ago. Spartak fans also think their stadium has the best atmosphere, although that point is up for debate.

A picture taken recently shows the Saint Petersburg Stadium. Photo: Collected
A picture taken recently shows the Saint Petersburg Stadium. Photo: Collected

SAINT PETERSBURG (Saint Petersburg Stadium)

Capacity: 68,000

Opening: 2017

Estimated cost: $700-$775 million

Matches: 15 June - Morocco vs Iran; 19 June - Russia vs Egypt; 22 June - Brazil vs Costa Rica; 26 June - Nigeria vs Argentina; 3 July - Round of 16; 10 July - Semi Final; 14 July - Third Place playoff

Under construction for more than a decade due to bureaucratic red tape and graft, the majestic arena cost about three times more than planned. Russia's most high-tech arena, with a retractable roof and pitch, will host some of the tournament's most glamorous matches, including ones played by Argentina and Brazil.

A picture taken on 16 May, 2018 shows the 45,000-seater stadium Kazan Arena in Kazan which will host four group games, a Round of 16 match and a quarter-final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup football tournament. Photo: AFP
A picture taken on 16 May, 2018 shows the 45,000-seater stadium Kazan Arena in Kazan which will host four group games, a Round of 16 match and a quarter-final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup football tournament. Photo: AFP

KAZAN (Kazan Arena)

Capacity: 45,000

Opening: 2013

Estimated cost: $230 million

Matches: 16 June - France vs Australia; 20 June - Iran vs Spain; 24 June - Poland vs Colombia; 27 June - South Korea vs Germany; 30 June - - Round of 16; 6 July - Quarter Final

Built for the 2013 University Games, Kazan Arena has grand ambitions, with Russian authorities thinking of proposing it as a future Summer Olympics venue.

A picture taken on 17 May, 2018 shows the 48,000-seater Fisht Stadium in Sochi which will host four group games, a Round of 16 match and a quarter-final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup football tournament. Photo: AFP
A picture taken on 17 May, 2018 shows the 48,000-seater Fisht Stadium in Sochi which will host four group games, a Round of 16 match and a quarter-final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup football tournament. Photo: AFP

SOCHI (Fisht Stadium)

Capacity: 48,000

Opening: 2014 (renovated 2017)

Estimated cost: $380 million + $65 million for renovation

Matches: 15 June - Portugal vs Spain; 18 June - Belgium vs Panama; 23 June - Germany vs Sweden; 26 June - Australia vs Peru; 30 June - Round of 16; 7 July - Quarter Final

Situated not far from Putin's vacation home on the Black Sea and surrounded by snow-capped mountains, Fisht Stadium is Russia's most scenic football venue. Sadly for locals, Sochi has no team and the stadium's future purpose remains unclear.

A picture taken on 9 May, 2018 shows the 45,000-seater stadium Volgograd Arena in Volgograd which will host four group games of the 2018 FIFA World Cup football tournament. Photo: AFP
A picture taken on 9 May, 2018 shows the 45,000-seater stadium Volgograd Arena in Volgograd which will host four group games of the 2018 FIFA World Cup football tournament. Photo: AFP

VOLGOGRAD (Volgograd Arena)

Capacity: 45,000

Opening: 2018

Estimated cost: $260 million

Matches: 18 June - Tunisia vs England; 22 June - Nigeria vs Iceland; 25 June - Saudi Arabia vs Egypt; 28 June - Japan vs Poland

Reminiscent of the "Bird's Nest" stadium that hosted the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, Volgograd Arena was built on the site of the Battle of Stalingrad, the heroic turning point of World War II in which two million people died. The stadium is now the focal point of a major city renovation project.

A picture taken on 21 May, 2018 shows the 45,000-seater Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod which will host four group games, a Round of 16 match and a quarter-final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup football tournament. Photo: AFP
A picture taken on 21 May, 2018 shows the 45,000-seater Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod which will host four group games, a Round of 16 match and a quarter-final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup football tournament. Photo: AFP

NIZHNY NOVGOROD (Nizhny Novgorod Stadium)

Capacity: 45,000

Opening: 2018

Estimated cost: $275 million

Matches: 18 June - Sweden vs South Korea; 21 June - Argentina vs Croatia; 24 June - England vs Panama; 27 June - Switzerland vs Costa Rica; 1 July Round of 16; 6 July - Quarter Final

With elegant, wave-like stands resembling those of Marseille's Stade Velodrome, the Volga River stadium will be home to a brand-new local team after the World Cup.

A picture taken on 12 May, 2018 shows the 45,000-seater stadium Rostov Arena in Rostov-on-Don which will host four group games and a Round of 16 match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup football tournament. Photo: AFP
A picture taken on 12 May, 2018 shows the 45,000-seater stadium Rostov Arena in Rostov-on-Don which will host four group games and a Round of 16 match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup football tournament. Photo: AFP

ROSTOV (ROSTOV ARENA)

Capacity: 45,000

Opening: 2018

Estimated cost: $320 million

Matches: 17 June - Brazil vs Switzerland; 20 June - Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia; 23 June - Korea Republic vs Mexico; 26 June - Iceland vs Croatia; 2 July Round of 16

The southern Russia city sits just 60 kilometres (40 miles) from the war zone in east Ukraine, where a four-year conflict has killed more than 10,000 people. Russia is taking extensive security measures to make sure the fans are safe.

A picture taken on 6 May, 2018 shows the 45,000-seater stadium Samara Arena in Samara which will host four group games, a Round of 16 match and a quarter-final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup football tournament. Photo: AFP
A picture taken on 6 May, 2018 shows the 45,000-seater stadium Samara Arena in Samara which will host four group games, a Round of 16 match and a quarter-final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup football tournament. Photo: AFP

SAMARA (Samara Arena)

Capacity: 45,000

Opening: 2018

Estimated cost: $305 million

Matches: 17 June - Costa Rica vs Serbia; 21 June - Denmark vs Australia; 25 June - Uruguay vs Russia; 28 June - Senegal vs Colombia; 2 July Round of 16; 7 July Quarter Final

Samara Arena made international headlines when FIFA noticed a few months ago that it still had no pitch. The grass was finally delivered from Germany in April, and the stadium -- while not looking as majestic as originally envisioned after some corners were cut -- is ready for action.

A picture taken on 4 May, 2018 shows the 44,000-seater stadium Mordovia Arena in Saransk which will host four group games of the 2018 FIFA World Cup football tournament. Photo: AFP
A picture taken on 4 May, 2018 shows the 44,000-seater stadium Mordovia Arena in Saransk which will host four group games of the 2018 FIFA World Cup football tournament. Photo: AFP

SARANSK (Mordovia Arena)

Capacity: 45,000

Opening: 2018

Estimated cost: $265 million

Matches: 16 June - Peru vs Denmark; 19 June - Colombia vs Japan; 25 June - Iran vs Portugal; 28 June - Panama vs Tunisia

No matter which way you put it, Mordovia Arena is a bit of a mystery. Never famous for its football, Saransk had a miniature airport and no modern hotels until the World Cup, with the region best known for being a wilderness where Russia put most of its female penal colonies. The city now has a brand-new arena that will house a third division side.

A picture taken on 24 May, 2018 shows the 35,000-seater stadium Ekaterinburg Arena in Yekaterinburg which will host four group games of the 2018 FIFA World Cup football tournament. Photo: AFP
A picture taken on 24 May, 2018 shows the 35,000-seater stadium Ekaterinburg Arena in Yekaterinburg which will host four group games of the 2018 FIFA World Cup football tournament. Photo: AFP

YEKATERINBURG (Yekaterinburg Arena)

Capacity: 35,000

Opening: 1957 (renovated 2018)

Estimated cost: $210 million

Matches: 15 June - Egypt vs Uruguay; 21 June - France vs Peru; 24 June - Japan vs Senegal; 27 June - Mexico vs Sweden

To locals' distress, fans had a good laugh at Yekaterinburg's expense for building an arena with two vertiginous stands entirely outside the arena. The stands overlook a nearby highway, although organisers say they also offer a nice city view. The stands will only seat Russians and be dismantled after the tournament, slimming down the stadium to 27,000 seats -- a solution FIFA applauds.

A picture taken on 22 May, 2018 shows the 35,000-seater Kaliningrad Stadium in Kaliningrad which will host four group games of the 2018 FIFA World Cup football tournament. Photo: AFP
A picture taken on 22 May, 2018 shows the 35,000-seater Kaliningrad Stadium in Kaliningrad which will host four group games of the 2018 FIFA World Cup football tournament. Photo: AFP

KALININGRAD (Baltika Arena)

Capacity: 35,000

Opening: 2018

Estimated cost: $280 million

Matches: 16 June - Croatia vs Nigeria; 22 June - Serbia vs Switzerland, 25 June - Spain vs Morocco; 28 June - England vs Belgium

Russia's westernmost city, nestled between Lithuania and Poland on the Baltic Sea, is also one of its most European, having been part of the East Prussia and Germany until World War II. The stadium's construction got off to a shaky start because organisers -- seeking to develop an empty lot on a central city island -- decided to build it on a swamp. But once the edifice stopped sinking, workers managed to make up for lost time and it opened to sighs of relief in April.

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