- Seven matches being played at Saint Petersburg Stadium
- Last year it was one of the main venues for the FIFA Confederations Cup
- Local club Zenit will move into the stadium after the World Cup
FIFA.com is bringing its series on the stadiums hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, where the best players in the world will be competing for the title of world champions, to a close. Today we present the Saint Petersburg Stadium, which has already passed a major test as the flagship arena of the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017.
Matches
Saint Petersburg Stadium is hosting seven matches at Russia 2018, including knockout matches in the Round of 16, semi-final and the play-off for third place. Morocco kick off their campaign here against IR Iran on 15 June.
Capacity
During the World Cup, the venue will be able to seat up to 67,000 spectators.
Location
The new stadium was built on the site of the old Kirov Stadium on Krestovsky Island, which has a statue of the former city mayor facing the stadium entrance. The old arena was one of the biggest football stadiums in the Soviet Union and could hold up to 110,000 spectators. The construction of the stadium has also boosted the transport infrastructure in the area, as earlier this year the Novokrestovsky Metro Station was built to service the venue. Last year, a bridge was also built to connect the island to the south bank of the Primorsky district.
Did you know?
The renowned Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa won the tender to design the construction of the arena. Following his creative vision, the exterior of the stadium was built to resemble a space ship or a flying saucer landing in the Gulf of Finland. The venue has an extendable roof and a retractable pitch, meaning the facility can not only host football matches but also all manner of cultural and entertainment events. As an added bonus, the stadium is able to maintain a steady temperature of +20 degrees all year round.
Saint Petersburg Stadium
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A general view of Saint Petersburg Stadium
31 May 2018
A photo taken on May 14, 2018 shows a view of the Saint Petersburg Stadium in the city of St.Petersburg. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
© AFP
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A general view of Saint Petersburg Stadium
31 May 2018
A photo taken on May 14, 2018 shows a view of the Saint Petersburg Stadium in the city of St.Petersburg. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
© AFP
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A general view of Saint Petersburg Stadium
31 May 2018
A photo taken on May 14, 2018 shows a view of the Saint Petersburg Stadium in the city of St.Petersburg. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
© AFP
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General view of the Saint Petersburg Stadium on June 14, 2017 in St. Petersburg
31 May 2018
ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 15: General view of the Saint Petersburg Stadium on June 14, 2017 in St. Petersburg, Russia. (Photo by Lukas Schulze - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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General view outside the stadium after the FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 Final at Saint Petersburg Stadium
31 May 2018
SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - JULY 02: General view outside the stadium after the FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 Final between Chile and Germany at Saint Petersburg Stadium on July 2, 2017 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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General view outside the stadium after the FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 Final at Saint Petersburg Stadium
31 May 2018
SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - JULY 02: General view outside the stadium after the FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 Final between Chile and Germany at Saint Petersburg Stadium on July 2, 2017 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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Fans arrive at Saint Petersburg stadium before UEFA Europa League Round of 16 match between Zenit St Petersburg and RB Leipzig
31 May 2018
SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - MARCH 15: Fans arrive at Saint Petersburg stadium before UEFA Europa League Round of 16 match between Zenit St Petersburg and RB Leipzig on March 15, 2018 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. (Photo by Oleg Nikishin/Bongarts/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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A general view of the Saint Petersburg Stadium on June 14, 2017
31 May 2018
ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 14: A general view of the Saint Petersburg Stadium on June 14, 2017 in St. Petersburg, Russia. (Photo by Joosep Martinson - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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A general view of the ground, seats, roof and set up of the The Saint Petersburg Stadium at the FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017
01 Jun 2018
SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - JULY 01: A general view of the ground, seats, roof and set up of the The Saint Petersburg Stadium at the FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 on July 1, 2017 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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A general view inside Saint Petersburg Stadium
01 Jun 2018
A photo taken on May 14, 2018 shows the pitch and the stands of Saint Petersburg Stadium in the city of St.Petersburg. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
© AFP
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A general view inside Saint Petersburg Stadium
01 Jun 2018
A photo taken on May 14, 2018 shows the pitch and the stands of Saint Petersburg Stadium in the city of St.Petersburg. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
© AFP
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A general view inside Saint Petersburg Stadium
01 Jun 2018
A photo taken on May 14, 2018 shows the pitch and the stands of Saint Petersburg Stadium in the city of St.Petersburg. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
© AFP
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A general view inside Saint Petersburg Stadium
01 Jun 2018
A photo taken on May 14, 2018 shows the pitch and the stands of Saint Petersburg Stadium in the city of St.Petersburg. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
© AFP
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General view inside the stadium during the FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 Final between Chile and Germany at Saint Petersburg Stadium
01 Jun 2018
SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - JULY 02: General view inside the stadium during the FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 Final between Chile and Germany at Saint Petersburg Stadium on July 2, 2017 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Bongarts/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
First matches
The stadium was opened in 2017 and, later that year, it hosted the FIFA Confederations Cup, including the Opening Match and Final, when Joachim Low’s Germany overcame Chile. The biggest club in Saint Petersburg, Zenit, play their domestic and European fixtures here, while the venue also stages international matches, such as Russia’s 3-3 friendly draw with Spain in November 2017 and the 3-1 defeat by France in March of this year.
Legacy
Zenit will move in permanently to the Saint Petersburg Stadium after the World Cup. The venue will also continue to be an occasional home ground for the national team as well. Finally, three group stage fixtures at UEFA EURO 2020 will be held here.
