First 2018 FIFA World Cup store opens in Moscow

Moscow, Dec 12 :  The first store carrying official 2018 FIFA World Cup merchandise had a grand opening here on Tuesday.

The store has opened its doors on the first floor of the Central Children's Store on Lubyanka Street. CEO of the Russia-2018 Local Organising Committee Alexey Sorokin, head of FIFA's Brand Management team Ana Brito and World Cup Ambassador Yevgeny Savin attended the inaugural ceremony, reports Tass news agency.

"We are very pleased to launch this store in a wonderful shopping mall meant for kids. Very soon, we will launch another store in St. Petersburg, there will also be many stores throughout all of the cities," Sorokin elaborated.

"There is a wide range of merchandise available, so all our customers will have a chance to purchase something. The World Cup is approaching and this is a significant milestone on our way to it." 

Brito, in turn, said that the site for the first store was chosen because a downtown location was needed. According to her, the Central Children's Store is the perfect place since the World Cup merchandise for the most part targets kids and teenagers. In this connection, she particularly mentioned the tournament's mascot -- a wolf named Zabivaka.

There are official footballs, T-shirts, backpacks, uniforms, stationary items and various souvenirs related to the World Cup on sale there.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup will be held between June 14 and July 15, 2018, in 11 Russian cities.