Former Miss Russia Victoria Lopyreva is now the official ambassador of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
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Russian model, Victoria Lopyreva is the official ambassador of the 2018 FIFA World Cup (Instagram - lopyrevavika)
Former Miss Russia Victoria Lopyreva is now the official ambassador of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
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Victoria Lopyreva
(lopyrevavika/Instagram)
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Miss Lopyreva, a Russian TV Host, actress, model, blogger and beauty pageant titleholder won Miss Russia 2003.
The 34-year-old was around to welcome the English media when Manchester United arrived in Russia for their Europa League quarter-final first leg clash against FC Rostov.
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Victoria Lopyreva showed the English around Rostov when Manchester United arrived for a Europa League tie (lopyrevavika/Instagram)
She showed them around the 35,000-capacity Rostov Arena which is under construction for the World Cup when it will host five group games and one match in the last 16.
“We want people to see the friendly, smiley face of Russia, which is really important for us,” Lopyreva is quoted to say by Daily Mail.
“This is a historic moment for Russia and for Rostov, my home city. Everyone in Rostov is so excited be to hosting World Cup games and to have so many great teams and nations coming here. I believe that it will be fantastic and we will be fully ready to host the World Cup.
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Victoria Lopyreva believes Russia will be ready to host a successful FIFA World Cup. (lopyrevavika/Instagram)
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“We have had very good experience of hosting the Olympic Games and I believe that here in Rostov we are going to be absolutely ready, in terms of the security as well.
“Everybody wants to be involved. Everybody wants to be a volunteer at the World Cup and to play their part. We want people to know that Russia is something bigger than just Moscow and St Petersburg.
'That's why there are 11 cities hosting games at the World Cup, including Rostov, my home city. Believe me, everybody here is so happy to host such a mega event and there is real excitement here.
“We're going to host our guests on a really high level, and everyone is going to enjoy, not just the football experience, but also the cultural destinations, our delicious food and everything else we have to offer.
'It's a huge celebration for every Russian fan and every Russian citizen.”
Apart from security fears, delays in the completion of grounds have also prompted calls for the 2018 FIFA World Cup to be moved from Russia.
FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura on Thursday, however, said there were no reasons to move the 2018 World Cup from Russia.
