World Cup City Guide: Kaliningrad
Name in Russian: Калининград
Population: 431,402
Average June temperature: 15.5°C
History: Kaliningrad is a Russian exclave, seperated from the rest of the country by the Baltic states and Belarus. For centuries, it was a provincial capital of East Prussia, known as Königsberg before becoming a part of Russia after the Second World War, although it had sustained heavy damage. The majority German-speaking population was removed and today it is as Russian as any other part of the country. Before the fall of the Soviet Union it was connected by land, however as the areas surrounding it became independent nations, it was cut off. Nonetheless, it retains importance as a naval centre, as its ports are the only ones existing on the Baltic Sea that remain ice-free year round.
What to do: There is still much remaining of the pre-war city centre, including a park on the site of the former castle and wide avenues. Kaliningrad is a 'green' city, and there are a wide range of parks and lawns. There are also many theatres, museums, while a Philharmonic Orchestra is based in a former Catholic church.
Distance from Moscow: 679 miles
Stadium: Kaliningrad Stadium (Capacity: 35,212)
The stadium features a design similar to the Allianz Arena in Munich, albeit on a smaller scale. It is located only 30 miles from the border with Poland, making it by far the closest stadium to the European Union. After the World Cup, capacity will be scaled back to 25,000, and FC Baltika will move in.
Matches due to be played here:
16 June 2018 21:00 – Croatia vs Nigeria – Group D
22 June 2018 20:00 – Serbia vs Switzerland – Group E
25 June 2018 20:00 – Spain vs Morocco – Group B
28 June 2018 20:00 – England vs Belgium – Group G
World Cup Host City Guides:
Kaliningrad
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