Russia hopes Confed Cup will banish World Cup concerns
TEST EVENT Successful conduct will alleviate worries about next year’s mega tournament
less than a year to go until the World Cup kicks off at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium, excitement is building inside Russia as the country prepares to host the Confederations Cup, the eight-team warm-up tournament designed as a dress rehearsal for 2018.
As the authorities promise a spectacular, exciting finals next year, the setup is beset with the usual worries that accompany a major tournament, as well as a couple of Russia-specific ones.
In addition to the concerns of stadium readiness and security fears, international observers have also raised labour rights and the issue of potential racism against fans or players and the potential for hooliganism, after the horrific clashes between Russia and England fans in Marseille last summer.
Added to all of that are concerns about the home team, after Russia were humiliated at Euro 2016, securing a point against England but being soundly beaten by Slovakia and Wales . A new, younger side are still finding their feet but the hope is that the Confederations Cup, which starts when Russia take on New Zealand in St Petersburg on Saturday night, will provide a springboard to avoid disaster on home soil next year.
Portugal and Mexico are the remaining teams in the hosts’ group, while the other half of the draw contains Germany, Chile, Cameroon and Australia. Four of next year’s 10 World Cup cities will stage games, with stadiums in many of the others still under construction. It will open at the Zenit Arena in St Petersburg, which has been plagued with allegations of corruption and construction delays. The project, meant to be finished in 2008, was completed only this year, nearly a decade late and at least 600% over budget.
A report released by Human Rights Watch this week said the organisation had discovered some workers had been subjected to dangerous working conditions or had delays receiving wages. It estimated that 17 workers have died on World Cup stadium sites.
Then there is the security threat – the St Petersburg metro system was hit by a suicide bomber in April – but authorities are confident that a tough crackdown on Russia’s homegrown insurgency and high security at the tournaments will prevent any attacks, as was the case during the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014.
Russian officials are bullish about the prospects for the World Cup and believe the tournament is a chance to show the world a different side of the country from the daily headlines about election hacking abroad and rights infringements at home.