As anticipation builds ahead of the arrival of supporters in June to watch the best players on the planet competing for the coveted trophy, FIFA.com continues the series introducing fans to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ stadiums. Today, we present the Kazan Arena in the capital of Tatarstan, a stadium that passed a major test when it hosted matches at the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017.

Matches The Kazan Arena begins its World Cup journey with France’s fixture against Australia in the group stage on 16 June. The venue is also scheduled to hold a further three group-stage matches, a Round-of-16 tie between the winners of Group C and the runners-up of Group D and a quarter-final.

Capacity The Kazan Arena can hold up to 45,000 spectators.

Location Constructed on the banks of the Kazanka River, the stadium has blended in nicely with the surrounding cityscape. From the air, the arena resembles a waterlily.

Did you know? The Kazan Arena was built in just three years, a remarkably short period of time. Even though the stadium is one of the first purely footballing facilities in Russia, the opening and closing ceremonies of the XXVII Summer Universiade were held here in 2013. The Kazan Arena also hosted the 2015 World Aquatics Championships, during which two competition-sized swimming pools were erected within the stadium.

One of the Kazan Arena’s standout features is its media façade, which is one of the largest in the world for a sports stadium and is comprised of three HD plasma panels measuring 4,200 squared metres.

First matches The first football match at the arena took place on 17 August 2014, when home side Rubin Kazan welcomed Lokomotiv Moscow in the Russian Premier League. Interestingly, the first goal at the new stadium was scored by 18-year-old Loko midfielder Aleksei Miranchuk, who is now competing for a place in Russia’s starting line-up this summer.

Since then, Rubin have been permanently based at the Kazan Arena and their next league fixture at home is against Spartak Moscow on 17 March.

Legacy After Russia 2018, the stadium will remain the home ground for two-time Russian champions Rubin Kazan. Alongside football matches, the Kazan Arena can also hold performances, concerts and public events. The facility is also a major attraction for locals and visitors to the city, as the stadium is the perfect day-out for the whole family. There are children’s entertainment centres, hockey and football clubs for kids, a language school for all ages, fitness clubs, cafes and restaurants.