Saransk, founded in 1641, served as one of Russia’s host cities for the FIFA World Cup 2018. The capital of the Republic of Mordovia is a beautiful, green regional centre that underwent significant development in the years leading up to the tournament. In this guide, we explore the Mordovia Arena, local attractions, volunteer efforts, and everything visitors needed to know about experiencing Saransk during the World Cup.
FIFA World Cup 2018 Match Schedule in Saransk
Saransk hosted four group-stage matches during the 2018 FIFA World Cup. No playoff games were held at the venue. Here are the matches that took place at Mordovia Arena:
- June 16 (Saturday) — Group C: Peru vs Denmark, kick-off at 7:00 p.m. (19:00)
- June 19 (Tuesday) — Group H: Colombia vs Japan, kick-off at 6:00 p.m. (18:00)
- June 25 (Monday) — Group B: Iran vs Portugal, kick-off at 9:00 p.m. (21:00)
- June 28 (Thursday) — Group G: Panama vs Tunisia, kick-off at 9:00 p.m. (21:00)
Mordovia Arena: Stadium Overview
Built at a cost of approximately ₽15.8 billion, the Mordovia Arena was a purpose-built World Cup venue that met all FIFA requirements and standards. It is located on Volgogradskaya Street on the right bank of the Insar River, within walking distance of the city centre and residential areas.
Key facts about the Mordovia Arena:
- Capacity: 45,000 spectators during the World Cup, with nearly half of the stands designed to be demountable, reducing capacity to 25,000 for post-tournament use
- Post-tournament conversion: Repurposed spaces for tennis, fitness, and volleyball facilities
- Distance to the airport and bus terminal: Approximately 4.8 km
- Distance to the railway station: Approximately 2.4 km
- Future name: Renamed to Yuvileiny Stadium, serving as the home ground for the local Mordovia football club
Mordovia Arena Design and Architecture
The shape and colour palette of the arena were inspired by the red sun on the flag of the Republic of Mordovia, achieved through semi-transparent perforated metal panels. The western side features an LED media facade, and the main western entrance faces the city centre and the Insar River embankment.
Architecturally, the stadium features a high two-storey basement with the shell of the arena raised above it, creating a visual impression of lightness and weightlessness. Inclined curvilinear walls serve as windshields, and the canopy extends over the spectator seating. Sightlines were carefully optimized:
- Maximum distance from the centre of the pitch to the nearest spectator: no more than 90 metres
- Maximum distance from any corner of the field to the opposite stand: no more than 190 metres
Spectator Facilities at Mordovia Arena
The stands were divided into four sectors, each equipped with its own set of facilities to ensure comfort and safety for all visitors:
- Dedicated exits and emergency exits per sector
- Food courts, first-aid rooms, and restrooms, including fully accessible facilities for disabled visitors
- Wheelchair-accessible seating with companion spots
- Seating for people with hearing impairments, positioned in direct line of sight of information boards and screens
- A dedicated family sector with a children’s playroom nearby
- VIP seating and a presidential box
The seats were painted in the colours of the Russian national flag, and the exterior facade was decorated in solar orange and white tones. Spectators could reach the arena by public transport, personal vehicle, shuttle buses from hotels, the airport, and the railway station, as well as high-speed electric trains to Posop Station.
Hospitality and Accommodation in Saransk for the World Cup
Saransk prepared to welcome international visitors with its own unique national character. The Organizing Committee of the World Cup 2018, under the guidance of FIFA, opened the “Academy of Hospitality” in the city to ensure a warm and professional reception for fans from around the world.
The primary accommodation for tournament guests was the Tavla Hotel, a large-scale complex with the following features:
- 792 rooms in total — 426 four-star rooms and 366 three-star rooms
- Eight multi-storey buildings, four designated as hotels and four as commercial real estate
- Post-tournament conversion to social housing for approximately 200 families, including families with multiple children and orphans
This dual-purpose approach allowed the local administration to address the city’s social housing needs while fulfilling its World Cup obligations.
Volunteer Programme in Saransk During the 2018 World Cup
Around 4,000 volunteers were selected to support the World Cup in Saransk. Volunteers were chosen for their communication skills, punctuality, hospitality, resilience, and proficiency in English. They worked in fan zones, at information desks, at presentations of local attractions, and at various preparatory events.
The volunteer programme was divided into nine functional areas:
- Information and tourist services
- Transport
- Navigation
- Fan festival
- Healthcare
- The final mile
- Entertainment programme
- Volunteer management
- Venue management
Key Responsibilities of World Cup Volunteers
The primary task of sports volunteers was to interact with fans and ensure a smooth, enjoyable experience. Their key responsibilities included:
- Informing residents and tourists about match schedules, fan festival programmes, public transport routes, and key attractions
- Providing guidance on championship venues, dining options, and rest areas
- Helping visitors navigate the city, creating a festive atmosphere, and offering emotional support
- Administering first aid and accompanying fans in the pre-stadium territory
- Assisting the regional Organizing Committee “Russia 2018” and helping coordinate city facilities and the fan festival headquarters
Many of the selected volunteers were students and senior pupils who were eager to contribute to the historic event.
How to Rent a Car in Saransk
During the World Cup, access to Mordovia Arena was restricted to public transport and vehicles with a special entry and parking permit. However, renting a car remained an excellent option for exploring the wider attractions of Saransk and the surrounding region.
Several car rental companies operated in Saransk, including:
- “Prokat avto na kolesakh” (“Прокат авто на колесах”) — 1a Stroitelnaya Street
- “Avto-prokat” — 91a Lenin Prospect (car service “Karetnyy Dvor” / “Каретный двор”)
- “Avtoprokat13” — 77 Volgogradskaya Street
- “Lloyd Avtoprokat” — Stroitelnaya Street
- “2km avtoprokat” — 12 Lyambirskoye Shosse
- “Danya” — 66 Kirov Street
- “Drive Club” — 1 Stroitelnaya Street
- “Car rental service” — 23a Titov Street
- “The Limousine World” — 47 Sovetskaya Street
Most of these companies operated around the clock and accepted both credit card and cash payments. Online booking with airport or railway station pick-up was also available. Important rental requirements to keep in mind:
- Minimum age: 23 years old
- Minimum driving experience: 2 years
- Required documents: passport and national driving licence
- Foreign visitors must also confirm their registration in Russia
Top Attractions and Things to See in Saransk
Saransk has more than 300 streets, eight public squares, and three parks. Despite its modest size, the city offers a rich cultural experience rooted in Mordovian and Finno-Ugric heritage. The Mordovian people are divided into two ethnic groups — Moksha and Erzya — each with their own distinct language. As a result, official signs and notices on local streets often appear in three languages: Moksha, Erzya, and Russian.
Sovetskaya Square — The Heart of Saransk
The main square of Saransk is Sovetskaya Square, formerly known as Sobornaya-Torgovaya. It is home to monuments honouring V. I. Lenin and Admiral F. Ushakov. Ushakov’s connection to the area is indirect — despite Saransk having no maritime history, the admiral spent time at Alekseevka mansion, which was part of what is now the Republic of Mordovia.
Stepan Erzia Museum of Fine Arts
Among Saransk’s most celebrated cultural figures is Stepan Erzia (Nefyodov), a Mordvin sculptor renowned for his expressive wooden works and declared a national hero. His legacy is preserved at the S. D. Erzia Museum of Fine Arts, one of the city’s most important cultural landmarks.
The museum’s collection includes more than 15,000 items spanning Russian and Mordovian fine art, applied art, and contemporary works. A monument to Erzia also stands in the city, keeping his memory alive for residents and visitors alike.
Historic Churches and Cathedrals in Saransk
Saransk is home to several remarkable religious landmarks that reflect centuries of architectural heritage.
Cathedral of St. Theodore Ushakov — This magnificent 21st-century cathedral rivals the finest in Moscow and St. Petersburg. It features a soaring 60-metre dome, an iconostasis crafted from precious wood and covered with gold, and an entry portal adorned with majestic marble columns. The cathedral can accommodate up to 3,000 worshippers.
Church of Saint John the Divine — The oldest church in Saransk, built at the end of the 17th century. Its distinctive black domes are a striking feature. A bell tower was added two centuries later. Since 1944, it served as the only operating church in the entire republic.
Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Church — A late 19th-century brick church designed by a Penza architect in a style imitating classical Russian architecture. Despite being repurposed during the Soviet era, the building has retained its original form and remains largely unchanged.
Millennium Square and the Star of Mordovia Fountain
Opened in 2012 to celebrate the anniversary of the union between Russia and Mordovia, Millennium Square is one of Saransk’s most impressive public spaces. The vast square is ideal for strolling and hosting large public events. Its centrepiece is the “Star of Mordovia,” a spectacular light and music fountain with a diameter of 60 metres. At the heart of the fountain lies a solar symbol drawn from traditional Mordovian ornamentation.
Notable Monuments in Saransk
Saransk features a wide range of monuments that reflect its history and values. Some of the most noteworthy include:
- Monument to Yemelyan Pugachev — Located on Volgogradskaya Street, this imposing figure of the famous rebel leader is crowned by a makeshift city wall
- Monument to Patriarch Nikon of Moscow — Situated on Sovetskaya Street
- Arch Monument of Eternal Glory — A solemn memorial honouring fallen heroes
- Monument to the Foundation of the Fortress — Commemorating the origins of Saransk
- Monument to the Poet Polezhayev — The only monument to this poet in all of Russia, located in the square bearing his name
The city also boasts several more unconventional monuments worth visiting:
- Monument to the Family — A bronze-cast group sculpture erected in 2008, depicting two adults walking with three children — a charming tribute to family values
- Monument to the Fallen Firefighters — A striking deep red sculpture honouring the bravery of those who lost their lives in the line of duty
Monument to the Stratosphere Pilots
One of Saransk’s most poignant memorials stands in Vokzalnaya Square — the Monument to the Stratosphere Pilots. It commemorates the tragic story of Ilya Usyskin, Andrey Vasenko, and Pavel Fedoseenko, the three crew members who designed and piloted the “Osoaviakhim-1” apparatus to an altitude of 22,000 metres in the stratosphere. The aircraft crashed, and all three men perished. Erected in the 1950s, the memorial features a young man standing on a pedestal with bas-relief portraits of the fallen aviators.
Drive Confidently in Saransk With an International Driving Permit
Planning to drive in Saransk or anywhere else across the globe? Make sure you have the right documents before hitting the road. Apply for your International Driving Permit easily and quickly here and drive with confidence wherever your travels take you.
Published June 08, 2018 • 10m to read
