You're reading: Russian sports minister announces 10 percent cut in funding for 2018 FIFA World Cup preparations

Moscow – Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko has announced a 10 percent reduction in the budget for preparations for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

The measure, however, will not apply to the construction of infrastructure and stadiums for the championship, he said.

“As far as the amount of funding is concerned, as in all other agencies, the budget of all programs has been reduced by 10 percent. However, in this program – the program of preparations for the FIFA World Cup, spending cuts will not be applied to infrastructure,” he told reporters on Jan. 29.