Russian World Cup Stadium In Samara Roughly 30 Days Behind Schedule

Construction work on the World Cup stadium in Samara, Russia, is "about 30 days behind schedule," general contractor PSO Kazan said on Wednesday, according to Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber of REUTERS. The company added that it would "make up the lost time,"  Work on the new 45,000-seat stadium, one of 12 that will host World Cup matches next summer, has been "plagued by delays over the past months." PSO Kazan Deputy Head Sergei Ponomaryov said that all "major construction work at the venue would be finished by the end of the year." On Wednesday, cranes "dominated the skyline above the venue and towering metal structures were supporting its roof." The pitch has also not been laid, "unlike at some other venues being built for the tournament." Samara Governor Nikolai Merkushkin "blamed the delay on unfavourable weather, including heavy rain" in the spring (REUTERS, 8/23).