Russian slump won't stop World Cup: FIFA

Russia's economic difficulties will not affect the country's preparations to host the 2018 World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Wednesday.

"We have received all the guarantees that the World Cup will be delivered as promised," he told Reuters after a ceremony in Moscow to find volunteers for the 2018 World Cup and the 2017 Confederations Cup, a World Cup warm-up event.

"But in addition to this, I really believe that an event like the World Cup and the Confederations Cup the year before will simply help to boost the economy of Russia because the eyes of the world will be on Russia and Russia can shine to the whole world."

The country has been hit hard by economic sanctions imposed by the EU and USA over its role in Ukraine and remains in recession, although it is slowly recovering from the slump of 2015.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who also attended the event, said he would make sure that all the venues for the 2018 World Cup were completed on time.

"The preparations for the World Cup are going ahead at full speed," said Putin.

"Three stadiums - in Kazan, Sochi and Moscow (Otkrytie Arena) - have already been built. The other nine are being built. All the construction companies say that the stadiums will be completed on time. I am sure that they will keep their promises," he added.

Putin said reconstruction work on the tournament's main arena, the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, was also going according to plan. It is expected to be completed by December 2016.