Volgograd. Host Cities

Situated on the western bank of the Volga River, which begets the town its name, Volgograd has been a central figure throughout Russia’s storied history. The city was named Stalingrad from 1925 until 1961, the name under which its landscape and population was scarred by the Battle of Stalingrad in World War II, in which 2 million people perished.  

Within the city there is a bridge across the Volga called “dancing bridge”. connects Volgograd with a satellite town Volzhsky, with passage adjacent to the northern urban fringe, which runs along the dam of the Volzhsky Hydropower Station.

Stretching nearly 100 km along the Volga River banks, Volgograd was founded as the fortress of Tsaritsyn in 1589. When Joseph Stalin successfully organised the city’s defence against the White Russian Army in a major battle during the 1918-20 Russian Civil War, the city was named Stalingrad in his honour in 1925 and was a large industrial city producing armaments and tractors. During World War II, the city was a major transport link supplying arms to the north of Russia.

The Battle of Stalingrad from August 1942 to February 1943 is considered the greatest battle of the Great Patriotic War in Russian history, and perhaps the most significant battle of World War II. The conflict halted the advance of German troops, and signalled a turning point for the Allied Forces, and is one of the bloodiest battles in the history of warfare, with some 2 million losses. The city was not renamed Volgograd until 1961 under Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. The University of Volgograd was opened in 1980.   

The 45,568 capacity Volgograd Arena has been purpose-built for Russia 2018. Standing by the Volga River, its facade resembles wicker and steel beams creating the impression of basketwork.

When building for the stadium began on the site of the demolished Central Stadium, construction workers found 300 unexploded WWII bombs and the remains of two soldiers. It will be used in the long term by Rotor Volgograd.

The Motherland Calls is the city’s most famous attraction –  a magnificent monument erected in memory of those who fell in  the Battle of Stalingrad and to symbolize the city’s unyielding resistance. Standing twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty in New York City, the Call of the Motherland, also known as ‘Mother Russia’ and ‘The Motherland Calls’, it is currently the tallest statue in Europe. The statue is based on Mamayev Kurgan - tumulus of Mamai in Russian - a site of fierce battle during the Battle. Opened in 1966 it is one of the seven Russian wonders and also features the “Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad” memorial. The hill now offers a brilliant view of Volgograd and everything the city emcompasses including the city’s host venue - Volgograd Arena.

The Monument Commemorating the 400th Anniversary of Tsaritsyn, Stalingrad, and Volgograd was Erected in 1989, located on a pocket park which divides Lenina Avenue in half, symbolically located on the old Tsaritsyn fortress

The sculpture resembles a Russian sword and features two statues of Streltsy soldiers, the founders and protectors of Tsaritsyn holding a scroll in their hands bearing a message to the generations to come, “Our beloved town, centennials pass by, but your epic glory never fades, and will never be erased from people’s memory... all ye steadfast and courageous, glorified and nameless – we bow to you this 400th year of Volgograd, we love you and remember you!”

The Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh is dedicated to the great pacifier of internecine feuds, famous for blessing Prince Dmitry Donskoy for the 1380 Battle of Kulikovo Polye, which freed Russia from Tatar-Mongolian vassalage. St. Sergius founded the monastery which is today the Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius.

The St. Sergius Church in Volgograd was originally built in 1908. On June 20, 1993, the spot for a new church in honor of the 600th anniversary of the passing of St. Sergius of Radonezh was sanctified by Patriarch Alexius II and lies on Ulitsa Imeni Tkacheva 1, not far from Lenin Square, making it the ideal stop on a walk from the center of the city.

The church was built with extra large green stained-glass windows, which are illuminated at night. Fine timber and semiprecious stones from the Ural Mountains were used in the interior décor. The church is further decorated with elegant plasterwork and mosaic icons, crafted by Volgograd artists.  

For those who enjoy the arts, The Stalingrad Musical Comedy Theater is certainly worth a visit. Located on the bank of the Tsaritsa River, the theater was destroyed in the Battle of Stalingrad in 1932. The theater’s troupe returned from exile in Omsk and Kazan, where they continued to rehearse, only when the city was liberated. The theater won the USSR National Award and in 2003, stages The Great Heroism of Stalingrad, timed to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Victory in the Battle of Stalingrad. The theater is located on Ulitsa Marshala Chuykova, just in front of the city’s current stadium – Central Stadium of FC Rotor Volgograd. The city is also home to the Tsaritsyn Opera and the Volgograd Musical Drama Theatre of the Cossacks.

Volgograd also has a host of restaurants, cafes, and bars situated along the Volga River embankment and Tsentralniy Raion (Central Region), with a multitude of places to unwind catering for all tastes on Raboche-Krestyanskaya Ulitsa.

In 2017, Volgograd introduced a system of automated payment for travel around the city, including on the city’s bus routes. Supporters can buy travel card for 100 rubles, in newspaper stands and in 7 vending points, which can be topped-up at ATM machines. The card also gives each passenger a 10% discount on each journey and can be bought at www.vlg-tk.ru.

To buy a travel ticket, simply scan the card with the fare collector’s portable device, and the necessary sum will be automatically taken from the electronic account attached to it. The service is also downloadable by app on telephone.

Moscow also has excellent rail links to Volgograd. Fans with FAN ID and a ticket to a game in Volgograd will be able to catch a train from the capital’s Kursky, Paveletsky, and Kievskiy train stations and travel the roughly 24 hours to their destination free of charge. airport

FC Rotor Volgograd represent the city at football, in Russia’s second flight Russian Football National League. The team famously knocked English giants Manchester United out of the 1995 UEFA Cup, courtesy of a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford. Basketball team BC Krasny Oktyabr - which translates literally as BC Red October - play at the 3,700 capacity Volgograd Sports Palace of Trade Unions, an indoor sports arena that is also home to handball, futsal, ice hockey and martial arts.

Volgograd will host four group games at Russia 2018. The city will welcome Robert Lewandowski’s Poland for their match with Japan, as well as England as they take on Maghreb nation Tunisia. The popular Icelandic ‘Viking’ thunder clap will be heard from the banks of the Volga as they play ‘Super Eagles’ Nigeria, and Egypt will meet Saudi Arabia, two neighbors separated by the Red Sea.

18 June, 21:00
Tunisia v England
Group G

22 June, 18:00
Nigeria v Iceland
Group D

25 June, 17:00
Saudi Arabia v Egypt
Group A

28 June, 17:00
Japan v Poland
Group H

Location: The 62nd Army Embankment
Venue Capacity: 15,000
Cultural and Historical Value: The site is located right around the Central Stair of the Volgograd embankment - the unique architectural sight and natural amphitheatre which is created by the shores of the Volga river.

Its multi-level urban landscape is a popular spot for the citizens and guests and hosts the main city public events such as concerts, sport events, festivals, City Day and the Day of Russia celebrations.

The site was also honored to host the opening ceremony of Delphic Games 2014 and live stream of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Host Cities announcement.

Larisa Ilchenko - Olympic 10km swim champion at Beijing 2008

Yelena Isinbayeva - Two-time Olympic champion pole vaulter at Athens 2004 & Beijing 2008

Oleg Veretennikov - Footballer, Russian national league all-time top goalscorer

Aleksandr Nikitin - FC Rotor Volgograd former manager and playing legend