FIFA is confident that the troubled St. Petersburg stadium will be ready for the Confederations Cup in June and July when it will host the opening game and final. A retractable field had been declaredunfit for use, the latest in a series of setbacks for the 68,000-seat St. Petersburg Arena, which took nine years to complete and will also host matches at the 2018 World Cup.
“There’s aclear plan, engineering plan of the works to be put in and that should be completed within the next two weeks,” Colin Smith, the head of FIFA’s operational commission, said. “We’re confidentthat the measures that have been planned should resolve the situation.”
The Confederations Cup will also be held in Moscow, Kazan and Sochi.