ABSTRACT
In the summer of 2018, the Russian Federation hosted the FIFA World Cup. Despite a buildup that included significant controversy-ranging from allegations that the country had bought the rights to host the tournament, to stadium construction challenges, as well as hooligan problems-the tournament was a resounding success. Following the World Cup, the two top flights of Russian football, the Russian Premier Liga and the Football National League, have experienced some growth in their average attendance. But not every World Cup city has benefitted. In Yekaterinburg, for example, the debate continues on as to who should carry the costs of refurbishing the World Cup stadium, and in Saransk, the local club Mordovia is playing in front of just a handful of fans at the brand-new Mordovia Arena. Furthermore, Russian club teams continue to struggle in European competitions-no team managed to get beyond the group stage of the UEFA Champions League and the round of 16 of the Europa League. At the same time, the creation of new facilities and Russia’s decent showing at the tournament has helped to revitalize the game in the country.
