Russia World Cup 2018 stadium venues: 12 grounds across 11 cities

The world's largest country will use 12 stadiums in 11 different cities to stage the 21st edition of football's greatest tournament.

Here is a look at the Russian cities and stadiums which will play host to the matches next summer.

Ekaterinburg (Ekaterinburg Arena)

Capacity: 35,696

Matches: Four group games.

The most easterly city hosting matches, situated at the foot of the Ural mountains, and the city where members of the royal family were executed following the October 1917 revolution. The stadium is home to FC Ural, and was initially built in 1953.

Kaliningrad (Kaliningrad Stadium)

Capacity: 35,212

Matches: Four group games.

The most westerly city to host games. Situated on the Baltic coast, it remains an important Russian seaport. The stadium has been built for the finals, but will be home to FC Baltika Kaliningrad afterwards.

Kazan (Kazan Arena)

Capacity: 44,779

Matches: Four group games, one round-of-16 game, one quarterfinal.

Kazan is the capital of the republic of Tatarstan and is home to 1.2 million people. The stadium was built for the World University Games in 2013 and is home to local club Rubin Kazan. It was designed by the same firm of architects behind Wembley Stadium and the Emirates Stadium.

Moscow (Luzhniki Stadium)

Capacity: 81,006

Matches: Four group games (including opening match), one round-of-16 game, one semifinal, final.

The main venue for the finals will host the first and last match. Built in the 1950s, it was used during the 1980 Olympic Games and hosts most matches played by the Russia national team and at various times has been home to city clubs Spartak, CSKA and Torpedo. Manchester United fans will remember it fondly -- it was here, in driving rain, that the club won their third European title by beating Chelsea on penalties in 2008.

Moscow (Spartak Stadium) Capacity: 43,298

Matches: Four group games, one round-of-16 game.

Home, as the name suggests, to Spartak Moscow, who despite their reputation and huge fanbase had never truly had a stadium to call their own until it was built. Opened in 2014.

Nizhny Novgorod (Nizhny Novgorod Stadium)

Capacity: 45,331

Matches: Four group games, one round-of-16 game, one quarter-final.

Built on hills overlooking the Volga river, Nizhny Novgorod has been an important commercial city since the 19th century. One of the new constructions, it will be home to Olympiets Nizhny Novgorod once the finals are over.

Rostov-on-Don (Rostov Arena)

Capacity: 45,145

Matches: Four group games, one round-of-16 game.

An historic city famed for its showcasing of Cossack culture, it sits on the banks of the Don river one thousand kilometres to the south-east of Moscow. FC Rostov will move in once the tournament is finished.

St Petersburg (St Petersburg Stadium)

Capacity: 68,134

Matches: Four group games (including Russia's second match), one round-of-16 game, one semifinal, third-place playoff.

The old imperial capital can probably lay claim to having the secondary venue at the tournament, as the stadium hosts some big games including what could be a make-or-break second match for the hosts. It will also host three group matches at the pan-European Euro 2020 finals, as well as one quarterfinal, and be the future home to Zenit St Petersburg.

Samara (Samara Arena) Capacity: 44,807

Matches: Four group games (including Russia's third and final group match), one round-of-16 game, one quarterfinal.

Capital of the Samara region and home to the offices of Russian state when they were evacuated from Moscow during the Second World War. The dome-shaped stadium will play host to Krylya Sovetov after the tournament.

Saransk (Mordovia Arena) Capacity: 44,442

Matches: Four group games.

The capital of the Mordovia region has a population of just over 300,000. The stadium will be reduced to 25,000 capacity after the tournament, with the space being freed up for other indoor sports on the same complex. It will, though, be home to FC Mordovia.

Sochi (Fisht Stadium)

Capacity: 47,700

Matches: Four group games, one round-of-16 game, one quarterfinal.

The resort city on the edge of the Black Sea hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics, and the Fisht Stadium was purpose-built for those Games. It is due to be a training -- and match -- venue for the Russian national team after the 2018 finals.

Volgograd (Volgograd Arena)

Capacity: 45,568

Matches: Four group games.

The city formerly known as Stalingrad, site of one of World War Two's most pivotal battles, is now an industrial hub home to one million inhabitants. The stadium is built on the site of the old Central ground and will house Rotor Volgograd once the finals are over.

*Stadium capacities are listed on FIFA's website as anticipated gross capacities of stadiums in their finished state. Stadium official capacities during the finals will be lower than those stated.