MOSCOW: Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko said on Tuesday that the country is expecting to welcome close to a million tourists when it hosts the 2018 FIFA World Cup next summer. Mutko, who also acts as the deputy chairman of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Local Organizing Committee Supervisory Board, briefed on the outcomes of the Confederations Cup 2017 which took place in four cities of the country which includes St Petersburg, Moscow, Kazan and Sochi from June 17 to July 2, according to a foreign news source. He emphasized that the World Cup will be a bigger tournament than the Confederations Cup 2017 with more participants and supporters visiting the country, which needs better arrangements. “We expect to that up to a million tourists will visit Russia next year (for the World Cup). A total of 32 teams will participate in it, matches will be played in 11 cities, so there will be more difficulties.” he said. Despite the tough nature of managerial tasks, Mutko is hopeful that the World Cup next year will also be a success. “If we do everything in the same way we did at the Confederations Cup, it will be a success. We will hold a number of meetings to assess the results of the recent tournament, and after that, preparations will begin for the World Cup.” said the Deputy PM. “We have to make conclusions and start preparations for the World Cup literally today,” he added. The 2018 FIFA World Cup will take place in 11 Russian cities from June 14 to July 15.