IN TH E SUMMER OF 2018, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE MOST POPULAR SPORT ON THE PLANET, THE FIFA WORLD CUP WILL TAKE PLACE IN RUSSIA. FROM JUNE 14 TO JULY 15, A HUGE FOOTBALL CARNIVAL WILL ROLL ACROSS THE COUNTRY FROM THE BALTIC TO THE URALS. “TOURISM & LEISURE IN RUSSIA” HAS PREPARED A GUIDEBOOK TO THE 11 CITIES THAT WILL BE HOSTING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES.
To Russia without a visa
Tickets
If you plan to attend World Cup games, buying tickets for matches is recommended only on the official FIFA website – www.fifa.com. The first stage of sales will start on December 1, 2017.
However, those who have VISA bank cards will be able to purchase tickets from November 8-17.
According to the Organizational Committee of Russia-2018, 500,000 applications for tickets were submitted in one day, 25% of them were by overseas fans.
In total, up to three million tickets for all matches are expected to be sold. For fans from outside Russia there are three price categories.
Tickets for the opening match will be available for $550 (Category 1), $390 (Category 2) and $220 (Category 3).
Tickets for the group stage will be sold for $210, $165 and $105, for the respective categories. Tickets for the 1/8 finals are $245, $185 and $115, and for the semifinals $750, $480 and $285. Tickets for the final are priced at $1,100, $710 and $455.
Some of the tickets will go on sale through the official FIFA ticket centres.
Visa-free entry for fans
In preparation for the World Cup, the Russian government has approved visa-free entry to Russia for fans.
During the period of the sporting events, they can enter Russia as spectators of sports competitions without visas. In order to obtain such visa-free entry, it is necessary to apply for and receive a FAN ID. In addition to the FAN ID, travellers will need to provide an identity document recognized by Russia, and an entrance ticket to a match or a document entitling you to receive one.
To apply for a FAN ID, please visit fan-id. ru. The addresses of centres issuing FAN ID and ticket sales will be announced later.
How to get there
Dozens of airlines fly from all over the world to the host cities. Airports are usually quite far from the cities, but buses, taxis and sometimes suburban trains
connect them with the town centres. If you plan to travel from the airport to the hotel by taxi, it’s better to book a car at the airport or use mobile applications.
Do not use the services offered by private drivers at the airport, since they may name a greatly inflated price for the trip. With a ticket, fans can get free travel to the city where the match will take place by train, as happened with the Confederations Cup-2017. Russian Railways has allocated 500 trains for such purposes, which will run between the cities concerned.
Text: Boris Titov
