Populous scoops Russia World Cup stadium job

London 2012 Olympic stadium architect Populous has been chosen to design the new football stadium in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don for the 2018 World Cup.

The 45,000 seat capacity stadium will be scaled down to 25,000 seats after the World Cup and will form the core of a sustainable city project

The architect said the design was inspired by pagan burial mounds found in the region.

Damon Lavelle, principal at Populous, said: “After our experience on the World Cup in 2010 and London 2012, we are certain that the stadium will be a great catalyst for the city and this part of the river.”