“We are sure that all the necessary preparations will be completed on time and this will allow us to hold the tournament at the highest level possible. We will create a proper sporting carnival atmosphere for the fans,” Kirillov said, as quoted by the official website of the St. Petersburg Administration.

According to Kirillov, those with World Cup match tickets and those invited by FIFA to the tournament will be able to use public transport in and around the city for free.

He also added that on nights where matches would start at 21:00 local time, the metro would close later than usual, while the schedule for the opening and closing of bridges would also be adjusted in order to provide better transport links between the city’s districts.

A total of 12 tourist information centers will be introduced near some of the city’s major tourist attractions throughout the World Cup.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup will take place between June 14 and July 15 at 12 stadiums across 11 Russian cities, including St. Petersburg.

The St. Petersburg Stadium will host seven World Cup matches, including four group-stage games, a round of 16 clash, a semi-final and the third place match.