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2018 FIFA WORLD CUP IN RUSSIA

Over 8,000 personnel to provide security in Sochi at 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup

This number will include 5,000 police, up to 1,300 National Guard troops, as well as private security companies and volunteers

© EPA/MAXIM SHIPENKOV

SOCHI, March 21. /TASS/. Over 8,000 people from various law enforcement bodies will be providing security during matches of the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia’s Black Sea resort city of Sochi, according to a statement from the local authorities.

"Security during the Confederations Cup will be provided by over 8,000 people," the statement from the Krasnodar Region’s said adding that this number will include 5,000 police, up to 1,300 National Guard troops, as well as private security companies and volunteers.

The FIFA Confederations Cup, which is also viewed by experts as a rehearsal a year prior to the FIFA World Cup, will be held between June 17 and July 2 at four stadiums in Russia and they are Spartak Stadium in Moscow, Zenit Arena in St. Petersburg, Fisht Stadium in Sochi and Kazan Arena in Kazan.

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Last December, the RFU (Russian Football Union) officially announced that the Russian national football team would play a friendly football match with Belgium on March 28 at the recently reconstructed 47,700-seat capacity Fisht football arena in Sochi.

The Fisht Arena, which hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Sochi, underwent reconstruction works to be adjusted for hosting matches of the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Participants in the 2017 Confederations Cup are hosts Russia, 2014 FIFA World Cup Champions Germany, 2015 Copa America Champions Chile, 2015 AFC Asian Cup Champion Australia, 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup winners Mexico, 2016 UEFA Euro Cup champs Portugal, OFC (Oceania Football Confederation) Nations Cup victors New Zealand and 2017 CAF Africa Cup of Nations Champion Cameroon.

The Draw for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup was held on November 26 in the Russian city of Kazan. Following the event, hosts Russia was placed in Group A alongside with Portugal, Mexico and New Zealand. Group B has brought together Germany, Chile, Australia and Cameroon.

The opening game will be held in St. Petersburg on June 17 between Russia and New Zealand. Russia will face Portugal in Moscow on June 21 and on June 24 it will play Mexico in Kazan.

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