Construction has finally started on the most delayed of Russia's stadiums for the 2018 World Cup.
Work on the 35,000-capacity Kaliningrad Stadium near the Polish border was delayed by a dispute between Russia's federal government and regional authorities about where the stadium should be built. The regional government eventually won with its plan to situate the stadium on an island in the Pregolya River.
With less than three years remaining until the tournament, construction began on the foundations Friday, with the acting regional governor in attendance to see the first posts sunk into the ground.
Russian authorities insist the stadium will be ready for the World Cup, although a full contract to build the arena has yet to be signed.
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