The semi-final match between France and Belgium will take place at the 64,500-seater St. Petersburg Stadium on Tuesday at 21:00 local time.

Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders is also expected to attend the encounter.

In late May, Macron, who is a football fan, told journalists following his meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum that he would come to Russia to support the French national football team, or Les Bleus, as they are known at home, if they qualify for the semi-finals.

The Elysee Palace confirmed on Friday, following France's 2-0 victory over Uruguay and qualification for the semi-finals, that Macron would arrive in St. Petersburg.

According to the French radio station RTL, French first lady Brigitte Macron will not accompany her husband to the match. The radio station reported that the French delegation would include five people - former French football players Guy Roux and Jean-Pierre Papin, writer Olivier Guez, a tutor from a Parisian suburb and a 12-year-old boy.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Sputnik that Moscow welcomed the French president’s decision to visit Russia for the World Cup. The meeting between Macron and Putin was not included into the schedule of this visit.

"As far as we know, Mr. Macron only intends to fly in to St. Petersburg for the match and to leave the city right after the game, while the [Russian] president's schedule does not include attending this match," Peskov told journalists.

He added that the two presidents were maintaining close contacts.

"They have very warm and constructive relations, I mean presidents Putin and Macron, so there is no communication deficit here between Russia and France at the top level," Peskov said.

Macron had held meetings with France players and their head coach Didier Deschamps before the beginning of the tournament. He had said on numerous occasions that he believed in the team.

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