2018 World Cup: the renovation of the Luzhniki Stadium to last three and a half years

The renovation of the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, which will host the opening and the final of the 2018 World Cup, will begin in early 2014 and will last three and a half years, the city of Moscow announced, on the 11/10/2013. Delivery of the 81,000 seat stadium (against 78,800 in 2013) is expected to be in April 2017.

On the 06/08/2013, FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) accepted the request by the city of Moscow to reduce the capacity of the project to renovate the Luzhniki Stadium from 89,000 to 81,000 seats. The initial renovation project included a large demolition of the stadium which opened in 1956, to allow for capacity expansion. The Russian authorities have appealed to FIFA to allow them to reduce the stadium capacity required to accommodate a final, arguing "that Brazil had not known such requirements" in the specification of the 2014 World Cup. The Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, which will host the final on the 13/07/2014, has a capacity of 78,800 seats.

The Luzhniki Stadium will not be used for the Confederations Cup in 2017. This competition…