World Cup 2018 to be top level: Putin

(L-R) Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, President Vladimir Putin, FIFA President Sepp Blatter and Russia's Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko attend a meeting of Russian and FIFA officials in Moscow, October 28, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

MOSCOW - Russia will carry out all preparations for the World Cup 2018 on time and at the top level, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday.

"There is no doubt that Russia will meet the established deadlines and will certainly do all the works at top-class level," Putin said at the meeting of the World Cup 2018 steering committee.

2018 World Cup logo revealed

Preparation for the World Cup is just beginning in many Russia's regions. Although work is going to be hard, Putin expressed hope that it is going to lead to positive results.

Putin suggested to launch a special information portal to control all preparation stages of the games.

Over 664 billion rubles ($15.6 billion), half of the federal budget funds, will be allocated to implementation of the preparation and main programs of hosting the World Cup designed for 2013-2018, Tass news agency quoted Putin as saying.

"As a positive result, we would consider perfect preparation for the World Cup to make a grant holiday for football lovers across the globe," according to Putin.

Putin said that Russia has all necessary resources for World Cup 2018 despite all economic difficulties, but its assets have to be used wisely during the organizing process.

"We need to be hospitable and assiduous at the same time. Money has to be used sparingly and thriftily."

The president added that the security measures of the World Cup 2018 should be "efficient but not excessive".

"We have to ensure close cooperation and coordination of all agencies and services involved...There should be no problems or discomfort created for athletes or football fans," Putin stressed.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also said at the meeting that Russia is taking all possible measures to ensure a comfortable visa-free presence, as well as other measures, to provide convenience for visitors of World Cup 2018.