By Akram Medhat
Following the announcement of the draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, which placed Egypt in Group A alongside host Russia, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, Egyptian football and travel fans are seeking to learn about the Russian cities that will host the Egyptian national team's three matches, to be held on the 15th, 19th and 25th of next June, with the World Cup's opening match between Russia and Saudi Arabia on June 14.
Egypt's Opening Match City
Yekaterinburg... is the first city, which will host the Egyptian team's opening group match against Uruguay on Friday, June 15, at 4 p.m., at the Central Stadium.
Yekaterinburg is located in southeast Russia, and it is the first city where a factory, or mint, for striking Russian coins was established, in 1723. It has a dam built about 300 years ago to drive the factory's gears by holding back water from the lake opposite and letting it flow down from top to bottom.
The Most Popular Match in Russia's Second Capital
Saint Petersburg... is the Egyptian team's second stop in the group matches, against host Russia, in what will be the most popular match, to be held at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 19, at Krestovsky Stadium.
Saint Petersburg is located in northwest Russia, in the Neva River delta, east of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. It is considered Russia's second capital after Moscow and one of its most important and largest cities, the fourth-largest city in Europe by population, and the birthplace of current President Vladimir Putin.
It was formerly known as "Leningrad" and is considered one of Europe's largest cultural centers. It was founded by Tsar Peter I in 1703 and is home to the "Hermitage" museum, one of Russia's most famous tourist landmarks.
Saint Petersburg is about 2,200 km from Yekaterinburg, and travel between them is possible by direct flight, though it will be expensive, or by train, a journey of up to 34 hours.
Egypt's Last Stop in Group A
Volgograd... is the city hosting the third and final group match between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, on Monday, June 25, at 4 p.m., at the Volgograd Arena.
Volgograd is located in the southeast of the European part of Russia, was founded in 1589, and is about 1,700 km from Saint Petersburg, with the train journey there taking about 31 hours.
Read also:
Free Russian Visa and Domestic Transport at the 2018 World Cup for Fans of Participating Countries
2018 World Cup Russia Match Ticket Prices and How to Book Them
Two Years Since Russian Tourism Stopped... and the Flight Ban Has Not Kept Russians Away from Egypt
