Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) addresses people as he visits a construction site of the stadium which is expected to host soccer matches of the 2018 World Cup, next to Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko (R), in the city of Samara, July 21, 2014. REUTERS/RIA Novosti/Alexei Nikolskyi/Kremlin
MOSCOW Russia (Reuters) - Russia has rejected a FIFA recommendation to cut the number of host cities for the 2018 World Cup from 11 to nine and stadiums from 12 to 10, according to Russia sports minister Vitaly Mutko.
“The plan that we will have 12 stadiums in 11 cities, which will host matches at the World Cup is not changing,” Mutko told the ITAR-TASS news agency on Tuesday.
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