World Cup 2018 Venues Trivia Quiz

Answer: Luzhniki Stadium (Moscow)

Originally called Central Lenin Stadium when it was built in 1955-56, this venue was the host stadium for the 1980 Summer Olympics before undergoing renovations in 1996. After news of Russia's winning World Cup bid, more extensive renos were begun in 2013 in order to be ready for the 2018 competition. In its new configuration, it had a seating capacity of 81,006.

In addition to the opening and closing ceremonies, Luzhniki Stadium was also the venue for the World Cup Final Match. Oh, and the result of the opening match? Russia 5, Saudi Arabia 0.

Answer: Yes

Saint Petersburg Stadium (aka Krestovsky Stadium aka Zenit Arena aka Piter Arena) was newly built for World Cup 2018... as was nearly every other venue with the exception of Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, and the stadium in Sochi, which was built for the Olympics.

It was constructed on the site of the former Kirov Stadium with planning beginning in 2005 and construction beginning in late 2008. Delays meant that the stadium was not completed until 2017, but it was able to be one of the host venues for the 2017 Confederations Cup. Krestovsky Stadium (seating capacity of 56,196), was chosen to host seven of the World Cup matches.

Answer: Fisht Stadium

Sochi's Fisht Olympic Stadium was newly constructed for the 2014 Olympics, constructed in the Adlersky City district of Sochi on the Black Sea, near the Abkhazia/Georgia border. Without a team to use it, Fisht Stadium had little purpose following the Olympic games.

However, preparations for the Federations Cup (2017) and World Cup competitions gave it a new lease on life, and even though it was relatively newly constructed, changes were made to open the roof and to increase seating capacity to 47,659.

Answer: Kazan Arena

Kazan Arena was newly-constructed with the World Cup in mind, as well as to be the new home of FC Rubin Kazan. Construction was completed in early 2013 and was utilized as one of the four venues of the 2017 Confederations Cup and, of course, for World Cup 2018, hosting six matches (capacity of 45,000).

Answer: Nizhny Novgorod Stadium

Nizhny Novgorod Stadium was newly constructed for the World Cup competition, taking three years to complete and opening in April of 2018. Located at the confluence of the Volga and the Oka rivers, the stadium lies just opposite the city's Kremlin. Nizhny Novgorod Stadium (seating capacity of 44,899), hosted six games during the World Cup,

Answer: Five WWII artillery shells

During the early ground-breaking for construction site preparation, five nearly perfectly-preserved shells from World War II were discovered. There was no need to delay construction, and things got underway. Plans were revised part-way through, and it took until early 2018 to finally complete the project. The stadium had seating capacity of 45,000 for the World Cup competition.

Answer: FC Spartak

Before finally building their own stadium, FC Spartak did not have their own place to call home, using different venues as arrangements were made (although largely playing in Luzhniki Stadium). Otkritie Arena (capacity 35,212), was also used as a venue for the Confederations Cup, and was chosen to host five matches for the World Cup.

Answer: Volgograd

Volgograd, formerly Stalingrad, is the home of the Mamayev Kurgan memorial, on which stands the gigantic statue, "The Motherland Calls," in memory of the Battle of Stalingrad during World War II. The amazing Volgograd Arena (capacity 45,000), was constructed between 2015 and 2018 on the site of the demolished Central Stadium (built in 1958).

Answer: False

The most westerly of the World Cup 2018 venues is actually Kaliningrad Stadium (aka Arena Baltika), located in a Russian enclave between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea. Mordovia Arena (shown here under construction), also known as Saransk Stadium and Stadion Yubileyny, was opened in April of 2018 with a seating capacity of 45,000 seats.

It is the home of FC Mordovia Saransk (appropriately enough).

Answer: Ekaterinburg Arena

Ekaterinburg Arena, also called Central Stadium, was originally built in the 1950s and underwent extensive renovations in the mid-2000s. But after the city of Yekaterinburg was chosen as a host city for the World Cup, the venue was deemed inadequate and was gutted and rebuilt (with the exception of the original facade, shown here). Home to FC Ural, the new Central Stadium opened with a seating capacity of 45,000.