ZURICH/MOSCOW: FIFA has given Moscow authorities the go-ahead to reduce the seating capacity of the city’s Luzhniki Stadium to 81,000 for the 2018 World Cup.

FIFA in December confirmed that the Luzhniki will host the opening match and final of the 2018 World Cup after approving Russia 2018’s hosting concept for the competition. The venue will also host a semi-final alongside St Petersburg, but there has since been considerable debate about the extent of redevelopment work the stadium would need for the World Cup.

RIA Novosti has reported that plans already approved by world football’s governing body had envisaged an 89,000-seat facility, with redevelopment set to begin after the World Athletics Championships which commence in Moscow on Saturday. However, this option would have necessitated the complete demolition of the existing venue for a new stadium to be built in its place – a route that was deemed to be too expensive.

The agreement of FIFA on the new plan means the Luzhniki, which first opened in 1956, will now only require minimal work to bring it up to standard. “This means that Luzhniki will be saved,” said Moscow’s acting deputy mayor Marat Khusnullin.

The Luzhniki is currently said to fall short of FIFA’s requirements in the areas of fan comfort, hospitality and media facilities.

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Wednesday, August 7, 2013

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