History and description

The stadium was designed by architect Nikolai Khrushchev, and it hosted the final match of the 1957 World Cup, as well as the 1960 European Cup Final. The stadium has been renovated multiple times since its original construction and now accommodates a seating capacity of 82,532 people. Luzhniki Stadium was originally called Central Lenin Stadium. It was built between 1955 and 1956 by the Soviet leadership to upgrade the country's sports facilities after they had tasted their first post-war successes at the 1952 Olympics. The stadium was designed by architect Nikolai Khrushchev and it hosted the final match of the 1957 World Cup as well as the 1960 European Cup Final. Since its original construction, Luzhniki Stadium has been renovated multiple times to accommodate a seating capacity of 82,532 people. The construction of the Luzhniki Olympic Complex began in 1954 and the Grand Sports Arena was completed in 1955. The stadium was inaugurated on 31 July 1956, only 450 days after it had started.

It was also the venue for the marathon and Olympic chess competitions.

In 1982, a stadium disaster took place during a UEFA Cup match between FC Spartak and Dutch side HFC Haarlem. In the dying seconds of the match, many 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 this resulted in 66 people dying.

In 2013, the stadium was renovated again and the capacity was decreased to just over 60,000 spectators.

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

The Spartak Moscow Stadium was regularly used by Spartak Moscow, who lacked their own home stadium, until they moved to the newly built OTKritie Arena in 2014.

The redevelopment of Luzhniki Stadium began in earnest following Russia's receipt of the World Cup in 2018. The stadium had to be extensively renovated to meet the tournament's requirements, including hosting the final. It closed its gates for the last time in May 2013 following the IAAF Athletics World Championships.

The redevelopment project entailed the reconstruction of the stands, addition of a second tier, removal of the running tracks, and an expanded roof structure. The exterior of the stadium was left intact. The project was 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.

During the World Cup 2018, Luzhniki hosted the opening match, 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).

(photos of the Luzhniki Stadium before reconstruction below)

How to get to Luzhniki Stadium

The Luzhniki Stadium is located on the Luzhniki Sports Complex, which is an area of sports facilities and park land in a bend of the Moskva River about 6 kilometers south-west of Moscow's city center. The stadium can be reached with the Red Line metro station Sportivnaya or alternatively Vorobiyovy Gory, both of which are within short walking distance of the stadium. Line 1 connects directly with Moscow's city center, and the ride from either Okhotny Ryad or Biblioteka takes no more than 10 minutes.

Luzhniki Stadium is situated practically adjacent to the Moscow 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 stadium is located.

Address: Luzhnetskaya naberezhnaya 24, Moscow

Eat, drink, and sleep near Luzhniki Stadium

Luzhniki forms part of the Luzhniki Sports Complex and is surrounded by other sports facilities and parks. Its location on the river Moskva makes it a pleasant place to spend a summer day, but there are few shops or restaurants nearby, so it is better to go to central Moscow for meals. If you are interested in culture, the nearby Novodevichy Convent is worth visiting, while the Moscow State University building on the opposite side of the Moskva river is one of Moscow's best-known landmarks.

There are a few hotels to choose from if you want to stay close to Luzhniki Stadium. Most of these hotels are near Sportivnaya metro station, e.g. Yunost Hotel, Business Hotel Spektr, Olimp Hotel, and Blues Hotel.

You can find all hotels near Luzhniki Stadium on this page and an overview of hotels in central Moscow here.

Photos of Luzhniki Stadium

The professor spoke about the importance of writing effectively. He said that good writing is important for both students and professionals. The professor stressed the importance of following proper grammar and syntax when writing. Photo credits: Ben Sutherland & GPA

Useful Internet links

The official website for FC Spartak Moscow, Moscow international portal Mosmetro, and the official site of the Moscow metro are all hosted by Spartak.com.