Rustam Minnikhanov holds meeting of the Russia 2018 local organizing committee for preparation of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Kazan

On March 3, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov held a meeting of the Russia 2018 local organizing committee to discuss issues related to preparing and holding the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Kazan.

Tatarstan Prime Minister Aleksey Pesoshin, Director General of the Russia 2018 local organizing committee Aleksey Sorokin and other officials took part in the meeting.

Opening the meeting, Minnikhanov reminded that less than one hundred days are left until the 2018 World Cup begins. Despite the fact that the Kazan Arena stadium has been tested many times and successfully hosted the FIFA Confederations Cup, it is necessary to carefully prepare it for matches of the FIFA World Cup, Minnikhanov said.

He also stressed that the World Cup includes not only the preparation of the stadium and training grounds for football players. Kazan will become a landmark of our country and it should show itself to be one of the best or the best city in the country, Minnikhanov continued. The facades of houses, roads and other facilities should be put in order, everything should be ready for the reception of athletes, fans, guests, and tourists, Tatarstan President said. 

In his turn, Sorokin noted that Kazan is one of the most important regions in terms of hosting guests and athletes. He reminded that Kazan will become the base city for the accommodation of football teams from Australia, Colombia, Japan. It will also host matches of football teams from Germany, Spain, France, Poland, Korea, Iran.

Sorokin continued that the Kazan Arena stadium does not require major changes to be made for the World Cup matches. However, he noted that work to expand the temporary infrastructure, including broadcasting and media centre zones, will be done.

A fan festival will be held in Kazan during the FIFA World Cup. The FIFA attaches great importance to this event, Sorokin reminded. "We will have a lot of work to do during these days," Sorokin said. "But I am sure that we will cope with it."

Making a keynote report, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sport of the republic Vladimir Leonov in particular told the meeting where football teams from Australia, Colombia, and Japan will be accommodated, about stadiums that will be used for pre-match training sessions, and other organizational issues.

As noted at the meeting, a test match between the Rubin and the Ufa football clubs will be held at the Kazan Arena stadium in May to once again work out all important organizational issues.

FIFA ticket office centres will be open in all host cities on the same day (on the 18th of April, 2018).

Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin, who also took part in the meeting, reported on the preparation and holding of the fans' festival in Kazan during the FIFA World Cup.

Minister of Transport and Roads of the republic Lenar Safin reported on transport arrangements during the championship. In particular, he said that free public transit will be offered for spectators holding match tickets.

Summing up the meeting, Minnikhanov urged to carefully work out all the issues related to the preparation for the World Cup events.