December 19 – FIFA have given the greenlight to the relocation of the stadium in the Russian city of Samara which is slated to host the 2018 World Cup.
Under the revised plans, the stadium will be built in the north of the city and become home to the local club, Krylya Sovetov.
The decision to move was partly as a result of fatal flooding in the town of Krymsk last July. The government decreed that any new large development near water must be at least eight metres above water level. Samara’s 45,000-seat stadium was originally set to be built on an island where two rivers meet.
Expense was another factor even though last week, FIFA President Sepp Blatter said Russia was the best prepared World Cup host nation he has ever witnessed.
The tournament will be the first World Cup held in Eastern Europe and is to be spread across 12 stadiums in 11 host cities.
The revamped 64,165-capacity Estadio Castelao was handed over to the two Fortaleza clubs, Caera and Fortaleza, ahead of schedule last Sunday. The stadium will host one of Brazil’s group games at the 2014 World Cup.