Completion date for Sochi World Cup stadium slips back

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MOSCOW (AP) – The official completion date of Sochi’s stadium for the 2018 World Cup has slipped back five months to November, the second such delay for a Russian World Cup venue in the last week.

Regional sports minister Lyudmila Chernova announced the delay in comments to the state-run Tass agency, but did not give any explanations.

The Fisht stadium hosted the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2014 Winter Olympics, but has needed lengthy construction work to convert it for soccer and expand its capacity to over 47,000.

On Friday, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said the St. Petersburg stadium had fallen three months behind schedule but would still open by the end of the year.

The St. Petersburg and Sochi stadiums will also host games in next year’s Confederations Cup.

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