World Cup 2018 - The Stadiums
RTÉ Sport's guide to the stadiums of World Cup 2018.
RTÉ
Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
Manchester United fans will fondly remember the vast stadium where they beat Chelsea in the 2008 Champions League final. When the stadium was demolished in 2013, the architecturally-valued exterior was retained. Will host the final on 15 July.
Saint Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg
This was initially to be funded by a Russian gas firm but eventually it was St. Petersburg city government. It hosted the Confederations Cup last year and is one of the most impressive in the competition.
Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi
This stadium has four stands: two on the sides under a translucent polycarbonate canopy and two open front stands which look a bit more regular. The Russian Government purchased several pieces of land around the area to regenerate it and there is now an amusement park next door to the stadium.
Ekaterinburg Arena, Ekaterinburg
The capacity will be reduced by 12,000 after the World Cup and it will be easy to change it as there are two temporary stands. It is the eastern-most venue at the World Cup which is what we used to look at when Ireland were in with a chance of qualifyting.
Kazan Arena, Kazan
The construction of the stadium was finished in 2013 with the work of architect Populous at $450 million. In a frenetic period of stadium-finishing, this was one of the easier for the organisers. The stadium looks like a water lily from the sky, but you guessed that already.
Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod
Apparently, the design has been inspired by the nature of the Volga region, and consists of a part-transparent exterior that can be lit up at night. Nizhny Novgorod Stadium is on the banks of the river Volga, just outside of Nizhny Novgorod’s centre, so it should be a nice area to enjoy outside.
Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don
After the World Cup, this stadium will be scaled down to a capacity of 25,000. The design is apparently, again, inspired by the ancient mounts of earth, Kurgans, that can be found in the region. That, you didn’t guess.
Samara Arena, Samara
The huge roof is made out of 32 panels, if only Ireland had qualified we could have done something there. The arena boasts just under 45,000 seats, which are divided over two tiers.
Mordovia Arena, Saransk
The Mordovia Arena was made using a blend of orange, red and white, a colour scheme that reflects the traditional folk art of the native Mordvin peoples. A little local knowledge goes a long way.
Volgograd Stadium, Volgograd
The stadium has a very open feel thanks to its unique roof, which was made from cables that resemble the spokes of a bicycle wheel. It hosts England's first game against Tunisia.
Spartak Stadium, Moscow
Spartak Moscow play their home games here. It is about 14 kilometres from Moscow’s city centre. It hosts Serbia v Brazil in one of the best group games of the World Cup.
Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad
The new stadium was built on October Island, right in the heart of Kaliningrad. Having World Cup games in the city was the ideal opportunity for local authorities to give the island a facelift.