Russia 2018: stadium in Saint Petersburg (68,000 seats) 75% completed according to project head

"The stadium in Saint Petersburg (68,000 seats) is over 75% completed. We hope to complete the work in May 2016, but we will need another 6 months of tests because the technology here is very complex," stated Vitali Lazutkine, the head of the project in Saint Petersburg, on 22/07/2015.

The project began in 2008, two years before the awarding of the hosting of the 2018 World Cup to Russia (02/12/2010). The cost of the stadium is estimated at 38bn rubles (€615m). The stadium, which in the future will be occupied by FK Zenit Saint Petersburg, will notably boast a retractable roof to accommodate concerts and shows with a capacity of up to 80,000 seats.

• The Russian energy group, Gazprom, which owns FK Zenit, helped finance the stadium in St. Petersburg and could be a candidate for possible naming rights.
  • "It would be agreeable for the stadium to be called the Gazprom Arena," said Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller in September 2009.

Russia 2018: draw for the qualifying round on 25/07/2015

• The draw for the qualifying round of the 2018 World Cup (from 14/06 to 15/07/2018) takes place…