Soccer’s governing body FIFA has provided an update on construction and renovation of the stadia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.
The four stadia which hosted the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017 during the summer (Spartak Stadium, Kazan Arena, Saint Petersburg Stadium and Fisht Stadium) are operational and ready for the tournament. Three are currently hosting the home games of Russian Premier League clubs in Moscow, Kazan and Saint Petersburg.
The World Cup’s showpiece arena, Luzåhniki Stadium, will be reopened when Russia’s national side faces Argentina on 11 November.
The grass at the Mordovia Arena began to sprout in October. Work has begun on the venue’s roof membrane covering, while other venue facilities are being furnished. The area surrounding the stadium is being redeveloped and lifts are being installed.
The internal facilities of the Kaliningrad Stadium are undergoing fitting out. Progress continues on seat installation, temporary structures are being built and pitch specialists continue to monitor and maintain the stadium’s playing surface.
The playing surface at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium is now complete, after almost 48,000km of artificial blades of grass were sewn into the pitch. The stadium roof is in the final stages of construction and the facilities are currently being furnished.
Work continues on the foundations of the pitch at the Samara Arena – the sand and gravel layer has been laid and the drainage system is half-installed. The venue’s temporary fencing has been replaced by permanent structures. Around the stadium, asphalt is being poured on the roads, pedestrian walkways are being erected and greenery planted as part of redevelopment efforts.
The redevelopment of the territory surrounding the Ekaterinburg Arena is complete according to the contractor in charge of the venue’s reconstruction. More than 150 trees and nearly 2,000 shrubs have been planted, while 180m² of rockworks and 340m² of long-lasting flower beds have been laid. Temporary and permanent entrances to the stadium have been constructed. Work continues on installation of the stadium lighting system, which should be complete in November.
Approximately 30% of seating at the Rostov Arena is installed, with work continuing on the façade, suspended ceilings, ceramic tiling, lifts and escalators, roads, pedestrian walkways, paths and open spaces. The deputy governor of the Rostov Region, Sergei Sidash, has stated that stadium construction is 90% complete.
At the Volgograd Arena, preparation is underway for insertion of the pitch’s artificial fibers. Work continues on decoration of the stadium facilities, lifting of the roof into place, redevelopment of the surrounding areas, installation of toilets and other sanitary equipment, installation of sewage and plumbing fixtures, and building communications, heating and ventilation systems.
November 1, 2017
