The previous World Cup in Brazil shocked many when the hosts were humiliated by Germany 7 goals to 1 in the semi finals. Germany went on to beat Messi’s Argentina in the final by a single goal, in what was the most expensive football match of all time, with some tickets going for $20,000.
A total of 64 matches will be played in 12 venues located in 11 cities and the final will take place on 15 July at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
FootTheBall brings to you a list of the 12 stadiums that are going to host the tournament.
KRESTOVSKY STADIUM, SAINT PETERSBURG
Krestovsky Stadium, which is also known as Saint-Petersburg stadium, is located in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The stadium has a retractable roof and was initially scheduled to be opened in 2008. However, the stadium was completed by 2017 to host the FIFA Confederations Cup. It has a total seating capacity of 67,000 people.
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
LUZHNIKI STADIUM, MOSCOW
The Luzhniki Stadium is the largest football stadium in Russia with a total seating capacity of 81,000 people. It is the national stadium of Russia and is located in the capital Moscow. It was the main stadium to host the 1980 Olympics and this summer it will host 7 matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which also includes the final.
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
MORDOVIA ARENA, SARANSK
The Mordovia Arena has a bowl shaped design and consists of acid orange seats. Located in Saransk, Russia, the stadium has a total seating capacity of around 44,000 people. According to reports, after the FIFA 2018 tournament ends in July 15, the upper stands of the stadium will be demolished and the capacity of 44,000 people will be taken down to 28,000.
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
NIZHNY NOVGOROD STADIUM, NIZHNY NOVGOROD
The Nizhny Novgorod football stadium is located in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia and after the 2018 FIFA World Cup ends, it will be used for matches of the home club in the Russian Football Premier League. The stadium has a total seating capacity of around 45,000 people.
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
ROSTOV ARENA, ROSTOV-ON-DON
The Rostov Arena is located in Rostov-on-Don, Russia and has a total seating capacity of 45,000 people. Some of its distinctive features are the irregularity in shape of both its roof and the stands. When the ground was dug while building the stadium in 2014, five shells form World War 2 was found and they were in perfect state.
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
COSMOS ARENA, SAMARA
The Cosmos Arena, located in Samara, Russia will be called the Samara Arena during the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The south-west area to the stadium has been named as Radio Center, built in 1949. It was named so back then because it was the highest point in the city. The stadium has a total seating capacity of 45,000 people.
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
OTKRITIE ARENA (SPARTAK STADIUM), MOSCOW
The Otkritie Arena will be called the Spartak Stadium during the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The multi-purpose stadium is located in Moscow, Russia and has a total seating capacity of 45,360 people. The stadium mostly hosts football matches of the home team Spartak Moscow in the Russian Premier League and also matches of the Russian national team.
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
VOLGOGRAD ARENA, VOLGOGRAD
The Volgograd Arena is one of the new builds designed specifically for the World Cup and will also become the home stadium of FC Rotor Volgograd. The stadium was built on the site of the demolished Central Stadium which was built in 1958. It has a total seating capacity of 45,568 people.
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
CENTRAL STADIUM, EKATERINBURG
Out of all the 12 stadiums that will host matches in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, only Central stadium is in the Asian Russia while others are situated in European Russia. The stadium is located in Ekaterinburg, Russia and has a seating capacity of 35,000 people.
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
FISHT OLYMPIC STADIUM, SOCHI
The Fisht Olympic stadium located in Sochi, Russia is named after Mount Fisht and was constructed for the 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. Initially it had an enclosed structure but now it has been transformed into an open-air football stadium. It has a seating capacity of 40,000 people.
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
KALININGRAD STADIUM, OKTYABRSKY ISLAND, KALININGRAD
The Kaliningrad stadium is located only 45 kilometres from the border of Poland and out of all 12 stadiums; it is the closest to the European Union and the Schengen area. Located in Oktyabrsky Island in Kaliningrad, Russia, the stadium has a total seating capacity of 35,212 people and has a two-tier structure built with ultramodern security system.
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
KAZAN ARENA, KAZAN
The Kazan Arena is located in Kazan, Russia and boasts of the largest outside screen in Europe. The design of the stadium is based on the local culture and place and had earlier hosted the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. The stadium has a total seating capacity of 45,000 people.
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
