Russia's Shuvalov Says $6.4B Stadium Budget For 2018 World Cup Will Remain Fixed

Russian First Deputy PM Igor Shuvalov has said that the "construction spend on stadia for the 2018 World Cup will remain fixed" at $6.4B -- the same figure that was set in '10, according to Paul Nicholson of INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL. Shuvalov acknowledged that there were "cost issues at other stadiums" but said that Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko would "soon decide on the site." Shuvalov: "As concerns other stadiums, the biggest problems are with the ones in Rostov and Kaliningrad. Vitaly Mutko will soon visit Kaliningrad to make a final decision about the site for the future stadium." This "opens speculation that the 2018 World Cup hosting plan could in fact be reduced by one stadium." FIFA President Sepp Blatter had suggested that Russia "could reduce the number of stadia required" after the Brazil World Cup in the summer. A "reduction by one venue could help with cost over-runs in over venues" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 11/18).