FIFA World Cup 2018 Venue Guide: Saint Petersburg Stadium

Published at :June 2, 2018 at 4:30 PM

Modified at :December 13, 2023 at 1:01 PM

(Courtesy : FIFA Media)

The venue will host atotal of seven games including fourin the group stage and a semi-final.

FIFA.com is bringing its series on the stadiums hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, where the best players in the world will be competing for the title of world champions, to a close. Today we present the Saint Petersburg Stadium, which has already passed a major test as the flagship arena of the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017.

Matches

Saint Petersburg Stadium is hosting seven matches at Russia 2018, including knockout matches in the Round of 16, semi-final and the play-off for third place. Morocco kick off their campaign here against IR Iran on 15 June.

Capacity

During the World Cup, the venue will be able to seat up to 67,000 spectators.

Also Read:

5 possible replacements for Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo's top 10 incredible Champions League records you won't believe

Player Ratings: Super-sub Bale powers Madrid to unprecedented Champions League hat-trick

Did You Know?

The renowned Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa won the tender to design the construction of the arena. Following his creative vision, the exterior of the stadium was built to resemble a space ship or a flying saucer landing in the Gulf of Finland. The venue has an extendable roof and a retractable pitch, meaning the facility can not only host football matches but also all manner of cultural and entertainment events. As an added bonus, the stadium is able to maintain a steady temperature of +20 degrees all year round.

Opening game in Saint Petersburg ????????????????????The #WorldCup hosts second match ????????????????????A Latin American clash????????????????????An intriguing contest!????????⚽️????????❓Which group stage match-up in the Saint Petersburg Stadium draws your attention?! pic.twitter.com/SRPBILW5jP
— FIFA World Cup ???? (@FIFAWorldCup) December 3, 2017

First Matches

The stadium was opened in 2017 and, later that year, it hosted the FIFA Confederations Cup, including the Opening Match and Final, when Joachim Low’s Germany overcame Chile. The biggest club in Saint Petersburg, Zenit, play their domestic and European fixtures here, while the venue also stages international matches, such as Russia’s 3-3 friendly draw with Spain in November 2017 and the 3-1 defeat by France in March of this year.

Legacy

Zenit will move in permanently to the Saint Petersburg Stadium after the World Cup. The venue will also continue to be an occasional home ground for the national team as well. Finally, three group stage fixtures at UEFA EURO 2020 will be held here.

[KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]