Leading sports pitch construction company SIS Pitches has been chosen to install the playing surface at the Luzhniki Stadium ©Getty Images

Leading sports pitch construction company SIS Pitches has been chosen to install the playing surface at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, which is due to play host to the 2018 FIFA World Cup final.

The Luzhniki Stadium is also scheduled to stage group stage matches and a semi-final contest at the event in Russia, which remains under criminal investigation due to allegations of corruption within the bid process.

The stadium, which is currently being renovated, was a key venue when the Russian capital hosted the 1980 Olympic Games.

It held the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, as well as athletics, football finals and the individual equestrian jumping grand prix.

The 2013 World Athletics Championships also took place there.

The facility has experience of hosting a number of major footballing events, such as the 2008 UEFA Champions League final, where English Premier League club Manchester United beat Chelsea on penalties.

The World Cup in two years’ time will be the first to implement SIS Pitches’ SISGrass natural turf reinforced pitch and SISAir technology, which aims to assist with the “promotion of healthier turf”.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino visited the stadium when he travelled to Russia last month ©Getty Images
FIFA President Gianni Infantino visited the stadium when he travelled to Russia last month ©Getty Images

“To be able to get the best innovative solutions for sports industry, we have been working for years to create optimum and sustainable high quality sports fields, and finally it is bringing the results at the Luzhniki World Cup 2018 final stadium,” SIS Pitches Eastern Europe Managing Director Ilyas Kobal said.

“Our task was to deliver the best playing surface for players during tournaments or intensive training sessions.

“SIS Pitches provides daily maintenance to ensure the pitches are in pristine condition.

“Managing those factors need professional maintenance equipment, staff, and especially installed elements like SISGrass hybrid surface and SISAir subsurface aeration system.”

The company, considered a world leader in the design, construction, installation and maintenance of both synthetic sports pitches and natural sports pitches, has offices in Britain, Ireland, The Netherlands, Turkey, Middle East and Angola.

They also produced the pitch for another World Cup venue - Spartak Moscow’s brand new Otkritie Arena.

The 43,000-seater stadium is scheduled to hold group stage matches at the tournament as well as the other semi-final.

SIS Pitches has recently installed their SISGrass technology at the iPro Stadium, the home of English Football League side Derby County.

Over 30 pitches around the world now use the technology, which only launched 18 months ago.