The 2018 FIFA World Cup will be the 21st FIFA World Cup, football tournament contested by the men's national teams of the member associations of FIFA. It is scheduled to take place in Russia from 14 June to 15 July 2018. A total of 12 stadiums in 11 Russian cities. The 11 host cities and their 12 venues for the 2018 World Cup are worth getting excited about. These may be the 11 most distinctive cities that have ever hosted a World Cup together. Let's know about the 12 stadiums in 11 Russian cities.

1. Samara

Samara Arena | Capacity: 45,000 seats | Opening: 2018

Samara’s lovely beaches just be the city’s biggest attraction. It’s a great atmosphere with plenty of cafés and beer tents to be found. If the beach isn’t your thing, this city of almost 1.2 million has plenty of other attractions to take in during your World Cup experience.

Matches:

17 June 2018 16:00 – Costa Rica vs Serbia – Group E
21 June 2018 19:00 – Denmark vs Australia – Group C
25 June 2018 18:00 – Uruguay vs Russia – Group A
28 June 2018 18:00 – Senegal vs Colombia – Group H
2 July 2018 18:00 – 1E vs 2F – Round of 16
7 July 2018 18:00 – W55 vs W56 – Quarter Final

2. Nizhny Novgorod

Nizhny Novgorod Stadium | Capacity: 45,000 seats | Opening: 2018

Nizhny’s brand new stadium will boast one of the best locations in the city, overlooking the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral where the Volga and Oka Rivers meet. Beautiful Nizhny is located at the confluence of the Volga and the Oka Rivers. Though there are over 600 historic, architectural, and cultural monuments to explore, the highlight is the city’s Kremlin.

Matches:

18 June 2018 15:00 – Sweden vs Korea Republic – Group F
21 June 2018 21:00 – Argentina vs Croatia – Group D
24 June 2018 15:00 – England vs Panama – Group G
27 June 2018 21:00 – Switzerland vs Costa Rica – Group E
1 July 2018 21:00 – 1D vs 2C – Round of 16
6 July 2018 17:00 – W49 vs W50 – Quarter Final

3. Volgograd

Volgograd Stadium | Capacity: 45,000 seats | Opening: 2018

This modern-looking stadium will have capacity for 45,000 fans and a unique roof which will be held in place with steel cables, similar to the method used in suspension bridges. The stadium can be reached with the Volgograd Metrotram, which runs from the center north-east along the river Volga. The tram can be boarded at various stops in the center. Get off at stop Central Stadium next to the stadium. During certain high-profile matches, the last stop is Europa Mall, from where it’s a 10-minute walk to the stadium.

Matches:

18 June 2018 21:00 – Tunisia vs England – Group G
22 June 2018 18:00 – Nigeria vs Iceland – Group D
25 June 2018 17:00 – Saudi Arabia vs Egypt – Group A
28 June 2018 17:00 – Japan vs Poland – Group H

4. Ekaterinburg

Ekaterinburg Arena | Capacity: 45,000 seats | Opening: 1957

Ekaterinburg is Russia’s fourth largest city but it tops the list when it comes to unusual attractions. The strangest attraction however, is the QWERTY Monument, a giant keyboard replica built out of concrete blocks. When Ekaterinburg Arena (aka Central Stadium) first opened in 1957, its seating capacity of 27,000 made it one of the largest in the world. The improvements include the addition of over 8,000 seats, 2 new metro lines, a press center, as well as improvements to the food vendors and security system.

Matches:

15 June 2018 17:00 – Egypt vs Uruguay – Group A
21 June 2018 17:00 – France vs Peru – Group C
24 June 2018 20:00 – Japan vs Senegal – Group H
27 June 2018 19:00 – Mexico vs Sweden – Group F

5. Saransk

Mordovia Arena | Capacity: 45,000 seats | Opening: 2018

With a population of just under 340,000, Saransk will be one of the smaller host cities at the 2018 World Cup. Saransk is well-known for its sporting achievements, and is the hometown of many Olympic and World champions. Specially for the World Cup, the city of Saransk is building an arena much bigger than they would otherwise need. Seating capacity for the World Cup will be in the 45,000 range, though the upper level seating will later be dismantled, resulting in a permanent seating capacity of approximately 28,000.

Matches:

16 June 2018 19:00 – Peru vs Denmark – Group C
19 June 2018 18:00 – Colombia vs Japan – Group H
25 June 2018 21:00 – Iran vs Portugal – Group B
28 June 2018 21:00 – Panama vs Tunisia – Group G

6. Rostov-on-Don

Rostov Arena | Capacity: 45,000 seats | Opening: 2018

The Rostov Arena is a recently opened new stadium in the city of Rostov-on-Don that was built for the 2018 World Cup and will become the new home of FC Rostov. The stadium was expected to be completed in 2017, but the opening got delayed to 2018. It officially opened on 15 April 2018 with a league match between Rostov and Khabarovsk. Rostov’s main railway station is located on the western edge of the city center at roughly 4 kilometers from the stadium. Bus 39 is a direct connection from the station to the stadium, but doesn’t run through the center.

Matches:

17 June 2018 21:00 – Brazil vs Switzerland – Group E
20 June 2018 18:00 – Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia – Group A
23 June 2018 21:00 – Korea Republic vs Mexico – Group F
26 June 2018 21:00 – Iceland vs Croatia – Group D
2 July 2018 21:00 – 1G vs 2H – Round of 16

7. Kaliningrad

Kaliningrad Stadium | Capacity: 35,212 seats | Opening: 2018

The city of almost 460,000 is rich in culture with a number of museums and theatres. It was built to be one of the playing venues of the 2018 World Cup and the new home of FC Baltika, who previously played at the modest Baltika Stadium. Kaliningrad’s main railway station lies south of the center, about 2 kilometers from the stadium so less than 30 minutes walking, though international trains are slow and rare.

Matches:

16 June 2018 21:00 – Croatia vs Nigeria – Group D
22 June 2018 20:00 – Serbia vs Switzerland – Group E
25 June 2018 20:00 – Spain vs Morocco – Group B
28 June 2018 20:00 – England vs Belgium – Group G

8. Kazan

Kazan Arena | Capacity: 45,000 seats | Opening: 2013

The Kazan Arena was built to provide Rubin with a modern home, to serve as the main venue of the 2013 Summer Universidad, and to be one of the playing venues of the 2018 World Cup. The Kazan Arena is located in the north-east of the city of Kazan, on the west bank of the Kazanka river, at about 6 kilometers from central Kazan.

Matches:

16 June 2018 13:00 – France vs Australia – Group C
20 June 2018 21:00 – Iran vs Spain – Group B
24 June 2018 21:00 – Poland vs Colombia – Group H
27 June 2018 17:00 – Korea Republic vs Germany – Group F
30 June 2018 17:00 – 1C vs 2D – Round of 16
6 July 2018 21:00 – W53 vs W54 – Quarter Final

9. Moscow

Spartak Stadium | Capacity: 42,000 seats | Opening: 2014

Moscow is the only city at this World Cup with more than one venue. The Otkritie Arena is the recently opened new home of Spartak Moscow, having opened in 2014 with capacity for 45,000 spectators. The stadium can be easily reached by metro. Newly constructed station Spartak is on the purple Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya line (line 7), which runs through Moscow’s center.

Matches:

16 June 2018 16:00 – Argentina vs Iceland – Group D
19 June 2018 15:00 – Poland vs Senegal – Group H
23 June 2018 15:00 – Belgium vs Tunisia – Group B
26 June 2018 17:00 – Serbia vs Brazil – Group C
3 July 2018 21:00 – 1H vs 2G – Round of 16

10. Sochi

Fisht Stadium | Capacity: 48,000 seats | Opening: 2013

During the 2018 World Cup, Fisht Olympic Stadium will host four first round group games, one round of 16 match, and one quarter-final. It’s Russia’s largest resort city, flanked by the majestic Caucasus Mountains and the Black Sea. Sports fans will fondly remember Sochi as the successful host of the 2014 Winter Games. The roof of the stadium, which was designed to look like snowy peaks for the Winter Games, has been partially removed to open it up for the World Cup tournament. The city of Adler also contains Sochi’s international airport and has a major train station. The stadium lies roughly 12 kilometers from the airport and 11 kilometers from the rail station.

Matches:

15 June 2018 21:00 – Portugal vs Spain – Group B
18 June 2018 18:00 – Belgium vs Panama – Group G
23 June 2018 18:00 – Germany vs Sweden – Group F
26 June 2018 17:00 – Australia vs Peru – Group C
30 June 2018 21:00 – 1A vs 2B – Round of 16
7 July 2018 21:00 – W51 vs W52 – Quarter Final

11. Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg Stadium | Capacity: 67,000 seats | Opening: 2017

Saint Petersburg is a picturesque port city on the Baltic Sea. The city is a feast for the senses, one of the highlights being the Hermitage Museum and the Winter Palace complex, which houses over 3 million pieces of art from around the globe. The design of the stadium was decided by a competition, which was won by Kisho Kurokawa Architect & Associates for their ’spaceship’ submission. The arena has a retractable roof and holds close to 70,000 fans, one of the largest in the tournament. Capacity of the stadium has been reduced to 56,196 for regular league matches, but will be increased to around 68,000 for the World Cup.

Matches:

15 June 2018 17:00 – Morocco vs Iran – Group B
19 June 2018 21:00 – Russia vs Egypt – Group A
22 June 2018 15:00 – Brazil vs Costa Rica – Group E
26 June 2018 21:00 – Nigeria vs Argentina – Group D
3 July 2018 17:00 – 1F vs 2E – Round of 16
10 July 2018 21:00 – W57 vs W58 – Semi Final
14 July 2018 17:00 – L61 vs L62 – Third Place

12. Moscow

Luzhniki Stadium | Capacity: 80,000 seats | Opening: 1956

Luzhniki Stadium, initially called Central Lenin Stadium, was built between 1955 and 1956. When Russia got awarded the 2018 World Cup, it was soon clear that Luzhniki Stadium would host the final and as a result had to undergo a large redevelopment. Luzhniki Stadium is located on the Luzhniki Sports Complex, an area of sports facilities and park land in a bend of the Moskva River about 6 kilometres south-west of Moscow’s city center. Apart from the final, Luzhniki will also host the opening match, three further first round group matches, a round of 16 match, and a semi-final.

Matches:

14 June 2018 18:00 – Russia vs Saudi Arabia – Group A
17 June 2018 18:00 – Germany vs Mexico – Group F
20 June 2018 15:00 – Portugal vs Morocco – Group B
26 June 2018 17:00 – Denmark vs France – Group C
1 July 2018 17:00 – 1B vs 2A – Round of 16
11 July 2018 21:00 – W59 vs W60 – Semi Final
15 July 2018 18:00 – W61 vs W62 – Final