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2018 World Cup Will Improve Russia's Transport and Utility Infrastructure – ACS

© Sputnik / Dmitriy Petrochenko / Go to the mediabankTU 214 liner lands at the Sheremetyevo airport, Moscow
TU 214 liner lands at the Sheremetyevo airport, Moscow - Sputnik International
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The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia is set to kick off on June 14, with the host team playing Saudi Arabia in its first group stage match.

Speaking to Sputnik today, Alex Sadat-Shafai, Air Charter Service's (ACS) global football sales director, outlined the unique challenges and logistics of arranging charter services to and from Russia, for national football teams, sponsors and journalists.

READ MORE: Russia 2018 Will Be Cheapest World Cup Tournament of Decade for UK Fans

“Every competition is unique, you have to adapt your processes to the different cultures of the host nation. This is a long process which starts a good 18 months before the event. Probably the biggest challenge is the availability of aircraft.”

ACS currently has over 150 bookings of commercial and passenger flights, and will be transporting a quarter of the national teams that will be competing in the WC.

Discussing how Russia, particularly the host cities, will benefit from hosting the tournament, Mr. Sadat-Shafai said “The host cities have already seen an improvement in transport and utility infrastructure brought about as a direct result of Russia hosting the competition. Moscow-based airports in particular will be among the main beneficiaries as upgraded aviation and transportation facilities in the capital will support higher passenger flows, during and after the event.”

World Cup Fever Hits Russia's Far North - Sputnik International
World Cup Fever Hits Russia's Far North
In addition to airports being renovated and expanded to increase their capacities, tram lines have been laid in some host cities to ease congestion and did intracity travel.

The tournament will run for just over a month, concluding on July 15 when the finalists will compete to claim and lift the trophy. Matches will be played across 11 cities, including Moscow, Rostov-on-Don, Kaliningrad, Sochi and Kazan.

This will be the first WC to be held in Europe since the 2006 FIFA World Cup, which was held in Germany and saw Italy emerge victorious after a dramatic final with France.

READ MORE: Kaliningrad Stadium Opens Its Doors (VIDEO)

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