The Japanese national football team will play Poland, Senegal and Colombia in Group H at the tournament.

"We are waiting for the football fans from Japan at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. I am sure that this bright sporting event will become a good occasion for the Japanese citizens to get to know our country," Safonov said during a working meeting with his Japanese counterpart Akihiko Tamura at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

According to Safonov, strengthening the partnership and economic cooperation with Japan provides favorable prospects for inbound tourism from Japan and for the growth in tourism exports.

"The Japanese actively travel around the world and increasingly visit Russia. The number of tourists from Japan to Russia increased by 27 percent last year. We are planning to build on this positive trend by creating the best conditions for Japanese tourists," Safonov added.

SPIEF is a major global platform for communication between business representatives and the discussion of crucial economic issues. The event started on Thursday and will continue through Saturday.

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