The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Nizhny Novgorod was part of the largest international football tournament held in Russia in 2018, with Nizhny Novgorod serving as one of the host cities. Preparations for the competition and the event itself spanned several years and had a significant impact on the city's infrastructure, tourist flows, and the region's legal environment.
Preparations
The intention to host World Cup matches in Nizhny Novgorod was officially recorded as early as October 2011, when the Nizhny Novgorod city government signed a corresponding letter of intent. One of the key infrastructure questions was the construction of a stadium: several sites were considered, including the Strelka area between Aleksandra Nevskogo Cathedral and the former salt exchange building, as well as a site near the Rowing Canal. Ultimately, the project of Strelka (nnov.ec) was realized — later named Volga Arena.
Legal Restrictions During the Tournament
In connection with FIFA events held in Nizhny Novgorod, as in other host cities, a special legal regime was introduced. A special decree, colloquially known as the "Decree Banning Rallies" (official title: "On the Specifics of Applying Enhanced Security Measures During FIFA Events"), established "enhanced security measures" in the city for the duration of the championship's preparation and staging. The document drew criticism among Nizhny Novgorod residents.
Tourism and Economic Consequences
The championship gave a notable boost to tourism in the region. According to figures cited in February 2022 by Deputy Governor Oleg Berkovich, the volume of paid tourist services in the Nizhny Novgorod Region for 2019 amounted to 14.9 billion rubles — a figure achieved on the back of the influx of visitors connected with the World Cup. This result long remained a record for the region and was only surpassed in 2021 (16.7 billion rubles). Berkovich used the World Cup as an argument in favor of a systematic events-based policy: in his words, the Nizhny Novgorod Region Kazan, Crimea, and Krasnodar Krai, and maintaining that flow requires the regular staging of major events.
Sources
Based on materials from articles (3)
Decree Banning Rallies, Oleg Berkovich, NTA-Privolzhye (nta-nn.ru)