Russia in 2018: Vitaly Mutko says plans unchanged for 12 stadiums in 11 host cities

"The plan to host the 2018 World Cup in 12 stadiums in 11 cities remains unchanged," said Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko, who is also the president of the LOC (Local Organising Committee) of the 2018 World Cup and a member of the executive committee of FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association), speaking to the Russian news agency ITAR-TASS, on 19/08/2014.

"It's a footballing country but we will have meetings there in September to see if 12 is the right number and even if they could be reduced to 10," said Joseph Blatter, president of FIFA, on 14/07/2014.

The Swiss leader flew to Sochi (Russia) on 16 and 17/08/2014, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Mutko. "Blatter discussed a possible reduction in the number of venues for the 2018 World Cup," said FIFA on 18/08/2014. The international body would like, according to ITAR-TASS, a World Cup held in 10 stadiums in nine host cities (with two stadiums in Moscow).

"We have a pragmatic approach to this issue," said Mutko. "If the matter is not resolved during meeting of the FIFA executive committee…