PROUD PUTIN’S PRICEY WATCH

FIGURES released yesterday suggest the cost of hosting the tournament has risen to £10billion – to become the most expensive football competition in history.

Russia’s former Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said that eye-watering fee contributed to Russia’s GDP in the last five years.

Transport infrastructure (£4.5b), stadium construction (£2.55b) and accommodation (£507million) are the biggest costs – with the official budget amended 12 times.

Vladimir Putin said: “We spent a lot of money and we need to make sure that all this infrastructure works first and foremost for the development of sport.”

● The only pies on sale in World Cup venues are made from cabbage!

British football fans may be used to tucking into steak, meat and potato – even Balti pies – at clubs across the country.

But there will only be traditional Russian delicacy kulebyaka on sale at tournament venues – the good news is they will only cost £1.25.

Peru supporters have caused controversy by having a football match in Moscow’s Red Square.

The fans risked punishment by having an informal kickabout in the square which is a listed UNESCO World Heritage site.

● A group of 14 Russian girls will act as ballgirls in the opener between Russia and Saudi Arabia tomorrow – the first all-female group to do so.

The girls, aged 13 to 16 from a small town of 19,000 called Agryz, were selected after making a shortlist of “inspiring entrants” to a junior football tournament.