Luzhniki Stadium

Luzhniki Stadium, initially called Central Lenin Stadium, was constructed between 1955 and 1956. It was the result of the ambition of the Soviet leadership to upgrade the country's sports facilities after the Soviet Union had tasted its first post-war successes at the 1952 Olympics. Olympics

Works on Luzhniki Olympic Complex started in 1954 and Building work on its centrepiece stadium, also called the Grand Sports Arena, in 1955. The ground got finished in just 450 days and was formally inaugurated on 31 July 1956.

Luzhniki Stadium served as the centrepiece stadium of the 1980 Olympics, hosting the opening and closing ceremonies, athletics events, football finals, and equestrian programme.

In 1982, a stadium disaster took place at the ground during a second round UEFA Cup match between FC Spartak and Dutch side HFC Haarlem. In the dying seconds of the match, people started rushing for the exits to make it to the metro before the rest of the crowd. When someone fell on the icy staircases, chaos ensued, and the resulting crush and domino effect killed 66 people.

Until the 1990s, the roofless stadium could hold just over 100,000 spectators. In 1996, the ground got extensively renovated, which included the Building work on a roof over the stands and the refurbishment of the seating areas, which resulted in a decrease of capacity.

In 1999, Luzhniki Stadium was the venue for the UEFA Cup final between Parma and Marseille (3-0), and in 2008 the Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea (1-1).

The ground was regularly used by Spartak Moscow, lacking a home of their own, until they moved to the newly built Otkritie Arena in 2014.

When Russia got awarded the 2018 World Cup, it was soon clear that Luzhniki Stadium would host the final and as a result had to undergo a large major renovation. It staged its last football match in May 2013 and closed following the IAAF Athletics World Championships in August 2013.

Major renovation works entailed the complete reBuilding work on the stands, adding a second tier, the removal of the running tracks, and an expanded roof structure. The characteristic exterior of the ground was left intact. Works were completed in the summer of 2017, and the first football match at the reopened stadium, a friendly between Russia and Argentina (0-1), was played on 11 November 2017.

Throughout the 2018 World Cup, Luzhniki was the venue for the opening fixture, three more first round group matches, a round of 16 match, the semi-final between Croatia and England (2-1), and the final between France and Croatia (4-2). Olympics

(photos of the Luzhniki Stadium before reconstruction below)

Luzhniki Stadium stands on the Luzhniki Sports Complex, an area of sports facilities and park land in a bend of the Moskva River about 6 kilometres south-west of Moscow's downtown area.

The ground is reachable with the red metro line 1. Station Sportivnaya, or alternatively Vorob'yovy Gory, both lie within short a short walk of the ground. Line 1 directly connects with Moscow's downtown area, and the ride from either Okhotny Ryad or Biblioteka takes no more than 10 minutes.

Luzhniki Stadium lies practically adjacent to Moscow's Third Ring Road. If arriving by car, orientate yourself with regards to the Moscow River and take the first exit after crossing the Moscow River at the bend where the ground is situated. Olympics

Address: Luzhnetskaya naberezhnaya 24, Moscow

Luzhniki forms part of the Luzhniki Sports Complex and is surrounded by other sports facilities and parks. Its location right on the river Moskva is pleasant on a summer's day, but there is little around in terms of dining and drinks, which can as a result better be done in central Moscow.

If you're into a bit of culture though, the nearby Novodevichy Convent is well worth a visit, while the Moscow State University building on the opposite side of the Moskva river is one of Moscow's best-known landmarks.

Several hotels to choose from if you want to stay near Luzhniki Stadium, most near Sportivnaya metro station, e.g. Yunost Hotel, Business Hotel Spektr, Olimp Hotel and Blues Hotel.

Use the linked guides To browse hotels near Luzhniki Stadium, and here for an overview of hotels in central Moscow.