FIFA’s 2018 World Cup evaluation delegation to visit Russia in February

The International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) will pay its next regular inspection visit to Russia in February next year to assess the country’s preparations to host the 2017 Confederations Cup and 2018 World Cup, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said on Thursday.

"The next inspection visit is expected to be held in February 2017," Mutko, who is also the president of the Russian Football Union (RFU), told journalists.

FIFA’s evaluation delegation was on its fourth and most recent visit to Russia between September 7 and 15.

During the visit, which began in Moscow, the delegation jointly with the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Russia-2018, stopped in five Russian cities selected to host the matches of the 2018 World Cup (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don, Saransk and Kaliningrad).

The 2018 World Cup matches will be held between June 14 and July 15 at 12 stadiums located in the 11 cities throughout Russia. Two of the stadiums are located in the Russian capital.