The 2018 World Cup has officially kicked off. Soccer teams from Saudi Arabia and Russia — the tournament's host country — play the first match Thursday morning.
In preparation for the games, Russia has devoted more than $2.8 billion toward building and updating 12 massive stadiums across 11 cities. The arenas pay tribute to traditional Russian architecture — characterized by sculptural fixtures — while also nodding to Putin-era building design, which have sharp angles and flamboyant patterns.
Take a tour below:
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In addition to the $2.8 billion on the 2018 World Cup stadiums, Russia spent more than $8 billion on infrastructure projects — like repairs and construction on roads, railway stations, and airports — for the games.
Source: Reuters
The Otkrytie Arena in Moscow
When it opened: September 2014
Cost: $430 million
Capacity: 45,360
Details: In 2010, an architectural council rejected the stadium's design, because the group thought it was too ordinary. The current, revised design was developed by engineering firm AECOM, London-based architects Sport Concepts, and facade designer Dexter Moren Associates.
The Otkrytie Arena in Moscow
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