The 45,000 capacity Nizhny Novgorod stadium which is being built for next year's 2018 World Cup in the Russia city of Nizhny Novgorod has been gutted by fire.

The fire which started at 1:30pm Russian local time was as a result of a spark from a welding machine which came in contact with a Polystyrene debris at the commentary box.

“The fire incidence has no effect on the on-going construction & we are poised to complete the stadium before the due date,” said Stroytransgaz the chief Engineer

This is happening just hours after FIFA declared Russia almost ready for the World Cup which is planned to hold from 14 June 2018 – 15 July 2018.