St Petersburg will stage the other semi-final.

Moscow, St Petersburg, Kazan and Sochi were approved as venues for the 2017 Confederations Cup, also to be held in Russia as a warm-up for the following year's World Cup, FIFA said.

The Luzhniki Stadium will join the select group of arenas to host both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Olympics and final of the World Cup alongside Wembley in London, the Olympiastadions in Berlin and Munich and the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Germany celebrate winning the 1990 FIFA World Cup final in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, which also hosted the 1960 Olympics

In addition, the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City and Rose Bowl in Pasadena have both staged World Cup finals and been used for the football tournament during the Olympics.

The Estádio do Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro will become the first stadium to host two World Cup finals and and an Olympics.

Having hosted the World Cup final in 1950 it will again be the venue in 2014 when the tournament returns to Brazil and, in 2016, will be the centrepiece for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

The Luzhniki Stadium was also the scene for a memorable Champions League final in 2008, which was dramatically won by Manchester United against Chelsea after a penalty shoot-out.

The Stadium, which is also is due to host the Rugby World Cup sevens and World Athletics Championships next year, is currently at the centre of a debate about whether it should be demolished and rebuilt or renovated.

A decision is due early next month. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
November 2012: New debate over future of 1980 Moscow Olympic Stadium after calls for it to be knocked down and rebuilt
August 2011: Moscow 1980 Olympic Stadium set to escape demolition