MOSCOW: FIFA’s inspecting commission on Friday praised the Kazan Arena, which will host the matches at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

“Kazan Arena is a unique construction,” ITAR-TASS news agency quoted FIFA inspection committee head Christian Unger as saying after his team visited the 45,000-seat arena, which hosted the World Student Games last year.

“The venue perfectly meets the needs of Rubin Kazan football club and the city in general.”

Unger added that the FIFA commission had few difficulties in its inspection of Kazan Arena, which is already operational. The venue, which was opened in June 2013, will also host the matches during the Confederations Cup in 2017.

“My first impression: this is an excellent venue,” added Unger. “It’s our first visit to Russia but we’re set to come here regularly to better our operational planning to stage the World Cup here in the best possible way.”

Earlier this week the joint delegation made up of FIFA and Russia 2018 World Cup organising committee representatives visited the construction site of the 70,000-seat venue in Saint Petersburg, which is expected to go into service in May 2016.

After the visit Unger said he had no doubts the Zenit Arena would be completed in time for the World Cup -- this year’s tournament in Brazil was beset by construction delays in the building of new stadiums.

The delegation will also visit stadiums in Sochi and Moscow, in addition to going over the projects and plans in place for the construction of the remaining World Cup venues.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2014