22 Sep 2015

Preparations for the World Cup 2018 to be held in Russia are said to be in full swing in the 11 cities that will host the games. 

A press release from the Embassy of Russia in Botswana says the ceremony launching the count down took place on September 18 at Red Square in Moscow, which was hosting the International Youth Football tournament matches. 

Furthermore, the release states that several iconic footballers amongst them the German, Lothar Matthaus, Italian Gianluca Zambrotta and Fernando Hierro from Spain were in Moscow to attend the launch of the countdown clock with about 1 000 days to go until the start of the tournament, adding they were also joined by former Russia captain Alexey Smertin who also participated in the 2002 World Cup with 55 caps for his country.   

According to the release, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin said he was optimistic that the 2018 World Cup will go down in the world sports history and promised that his country will do everything needed to be a good host for the competing teams and their supporters.   

He says the main focus is on attracting volunteers for the tournament, adding that the process will begin in the second quarter next year. “Truly memorable moments await those who come to Russia to support their teams, not only will they be there in the stadiums to watch the world’s best footballers, they will have the chance to get to know the Russian culture and history and taste of our country’s traditional hospitality and warmth,” says the release. 

It further states that the launch of the International Youth football tournament was graced by under 16 teams from Russia, Germany, Spain and Italy, and that alone is a clear manifestation that the teams have every chance of being able to come back in Russia in 2018 representing their respective countries’ as members of their national teams. 

The World Cup matches will take place from June 14 to July 15 at 12 stadiums in 11 Russian cities, Moscow, St Petersburg, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Saransk, Kaliningrad, Volgograd, Yekaterinburg, Samara, Sochi and Rostov-on-Don, with the opening ceremony held in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on June 14 in 2018. Ends