The clock on the Kremlin embankment Kazan began the countdown to the World Cup 2018

(KZN.RU, November 26, Alsu Safina). The countdown clock to the World Cup 2018 was started today in the Kazan Kremlin embankment. Shortly before noon they started to count down the time until the first match. Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, Vitaly Mutko, the president of the Russian Football Union, and Gianni Infantino, the president of the FIFA, attended the ceremony.

 “It is a great pleasure to be here in the beautiful city of Kazan and to participate in the ceremony of the countdown clock launching”, said Gianni Infantino, the president of the FIFA. “From that moment we have no doubt that we begin to count the days, minutes and even seconds before the World Cup”. Guest thanked Kazan and Tatarstan for the hospitality, diligence and willingness to host the matches of the Confederations Cup and the World Cup.

Vitaly Mutko, the deputy prime minister of Sport, Tourism and Youth Policy, noted that such clocks were opened in Moscow for a thousand days before the World Cup. Now 565 days left before the tournament that Russia will host for the first time. Earlier, the countdown clock was also launched in St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don and Sochi. Vitaly Mutko expressed the hope that this will be a great festival of football, its fans will see the best teams in the world.

“Russia has a responsible attitude to the mission, which the FIFA requested: modern stadiums and infrastructure are built”, said V. Mutko. “A little time remains before the Confederations Cup will be held in four cities in the summer, and a year after it – the World Cup itself”. According to the deputy chairman of the Government of the RF, the guests and participants of the tournament will feel the originality of the host country.

Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, said that it is an honor for Kazan to become a member of such large international sports events in the run-up to the World Cup. “It is an honor and responsibility for us. Kazan, as well as other cities of the country, will host the World Cup after the Universiade and FINA World Championships”, said Ilsur Metshin. “Exciting event, a great celebration. We will do our best and even more to the competitors and visitors were surrounded by the warmth, care and love, and it would be an unforgettable holiday for them”.

After that, the guests started the countdown clock. Also, another ambassador of the World Cup 2018 was presented today at the Kremlin embankment. He was Sergey Semak, the football player and coach, who once played for Kazan “Rubin” and the Russian national team. Vitaly Mutko, handing him a certificate, said that Sergey Semak did much for Russian football. The new Ambassador of the World Cup expressed his gratitude for the trust and said that he was always nice to come to Kazan.

The FIFA World Cup will be held in Russia from June 14 to July 15, 2018. Competitions scheduled for 12 stadiums in 11 Russian cities.

The ceremony took place in the run hours of the official program of the final draw Confederations Cup FIFA-2017, which will be held tonight at the Kazan Tennis Academy.