World Cup City Guide: Samara
Name in Russian: Самáра
Population: 1,164,685
Average June temperature: 19.7°C
History: Situated in south-eastern Russia, at the centre of the Samara Oblast, the city rests on the east bank of the Volga at its confluence with the Samara river. It has been continuously inhabited for thousands of years, but accorsing to legend the city proper was founded by Alexius, Metropolitan of Moscow, in 1357. The bend in the river was extremely important to the medieval communities and the city played host to many pirates at the time. It was named Kuybyshev during the Soviet period, and was was chosen to be the alternative capital of the Soviet Union, should Moscow ever fall into the hands of the invading Germans during the war. It later played an important part in the Soviet space program, and Yuri Gagarin gave a speech there after he returned from the first ever manned spaceflight. Today it is a multi-ethnic city and one of Russia's major industrial centres.
What to do: There is the Museum of Natural History and the City Art Museum as well as a museum dedicated to the Aerospace industry - reflecting the city's role in that particular field. Furthermore, in addition to a zoo, there is a local brewery where the popular beer 'Zhigulyovskoye', is brewed.
Distance from Moscow: 534 miles
Stadium: Cosmos Arena (Capacity: 44,918)
At the time of writing, this is the stadium that is giving FIFA the most worry as the preparations for the World Cup reach their final stages. The pitch has still not been laid and building work is a month behind schedule. The stadium will have a high, domed roof and the seats will be divided over two continuous tiers. After the tournament, Krylia Sovetov Samara will move in, leaving the Metallurg Stadium.
Matches due to be played here:
17 June 2018 16:00 – Costa Rica vs Serbia – Group E
21 June 2018 19:00 – Denmark vs Australia – Group C
25 June 2018 18:00 – Uruguay vs Russia – Group A
28 June 2018 18:00 – Senegal vs Colombia – Group H
2 July 2018 18:00 – 1E vs 2F – Round of 16
7 July 2018 18:00 – W55 vs W56 – Quarter Final
World Cup Host City Guides:
Samara
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