Moscow to make World Cup record books

Moscow may become the ever first ever city to host matches at three different stadiums during the 2018 World Cup.

­A FIFA delegation has arrived in the Russian capital as the group tours the country before announcing the final short list of the 11 venues for World Cup 2018.

A total of 13 cities are vying to become 2018 World Cup venues, so two of them will have to accept defeat this autumn when the list is announced.

Trips to Kazan, Nizhniy Novgorod, Saransk, Samara and Volgograd are still on the itinerary for the FIFA group.

However, delegation head, Jurgen Muller, is keeping mum about which locations FIFA are leaning towards.

“I understand that everybody wants to learn the names of the cities to host the World Cup in Russia, but it reminds me of my daughter, who already in summer wants to know what will be her Christmas present,” he said.

According to Muller, the final list of 11 cities will be announced this September in the Russian capital.

“As for the possibility of Moscow hosting games at three different stadiums, we can’t give a precise answer now,” the inspector added. “It has never happened before that World Cup matches were played in three arenas in one city. But I don’t see any reasons which may prevent the Russian capital from being the first to do so.”

Meanwhile, Russia’s sports minister, Vitaly Mutko, named the venues for the 2017 Confederations Cup, which are Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kazan and Sochi.

This event is aimed at testing the country’s readiness for the World Cup, which will take place a year later.