Red and blue FIFA flags flutter in the wind around Moscow. And Russia has completed its preparations and is truly ready to host the 2018 World Cup. Even the stadium in the Volga-city of Samara is now finally finished after delays and cost overruns – with grass imported from Germany. For Russia, the 2018 World Cup is a chance to present a friendly face to the world, and President Vladimir Putin’s tone reflects this.
“I would like the World Cup 2018 to be a celebration for everyone who loves sports – for the footballers and for our guests,” he said recently on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg Economic Forum. “We will do everything to make sure that the fans and the specialists and the players feel at home in Russia.”
