Hehe I requested the rd of 16 but not anything beyond that. Gotta be realistic here.

Probably something like that. First thing I did was check with the other browser and it was fine so I rolled with it.

Probably just clear browsing data. 

Got my request in. Category 1 for the group stage matches as the price difference isn't all that much, and there's much more available, and category 3 for all the knockouts right up to the final. They'll refund my card if we don't make it, so in the meantime dreams are free!

Seemed to work in Firefox but not Chrome. Weird. 

Just went to the FIFA site to put in my application, logged into my account, and I'm getting a blank page when I click apply for tickets. Anyone else?

The official site and place you'll book them is transport2018.com. Worked like clockwork in the Confeds Cup, highly recommend it.

All train trainsport is free if you have a Fan ID but you have to pre-book. More info on FIFA site I think.

For trains between St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kazan and places in between I'd have a look at https://www.russiantrains.com .

It's quite an easy site to use with reasonable prices (I have no barometer for this but it's certainly cheaper than most of the internal flights), the overnight options can be handy too in saving on a hotel night.

i got stung $450 for a flight from Moscow to Samara on the morning of June 21. absolute extortion for a flight that is about the same distance as Melbourne to Sydney, but there is no way I was gonna get the train. but my flight from Samara to St Pete's on June 22 was about half as much.  

Anytime mate. For flights i used cheapflights and skyscanner. For accom trivago is usually the cheapest

Thanks mate. Best idea for sites to look at? Just looking for rough estimates to budget for now until I know which tickets I get

St Petersburg or Moscow. You will have access to high speed trains and flights there

My understanding is it is done at the end (currently 56 days away). Then the first in first served phase opens for the remaining tickets, which I'm sure they have put some aside for because otherwise every ticket would be taken in this phase.

Does anyone know the best place to look at for domestic flights in Russia? At this stage I'm thinking I'll be basing myself in Moscow and travelling match to match from there?

for the first phase the ballot closed on October 12, and was notified i was successful by email on October 31 (but my credit card was debited about 10 days prior, so I knew I had them anyway)

Anyone know when the draw for the random selection is? Does it happen at the end or is it periodically

Sounds like a great time mate. Will hopefully get lucky with tickets and be able to do something similar in Russia.

Thanks mate really appreciate the help. Hopefully the ticket ballot is kind. 

Skyscanner, Fare compare etc will give you lots of internal travel options.

I'm basing in Moscow and flying to/from the Aus games on the day of each game with the GGA tour so I've tried to get onto some of the Moscow group games as well (Ger/Mex, Serb/Braz, Port/Morocco). I figure between the Aus games (hopefullly with the ballot), the fan fest in Moscow, some group games there with a bit of luck, and St Petersburg close by train I should be able to get more than enough football and culture (in whatever form that takes) in the 16 days that I'll be there for the group stage.

Every group game in Moscow also features a Pot 1 team so they should all be quality - except the opener maybe which it doesnt seem likely to get tickets to anyway.

If you are following Australia it should be quite easy to get to/back from any game on any other day I would think. Samara and Kazan are quite central. Sochi not so much.

I did read that the '2nd-tier' domestic Russian airlines are 10 times more likely to have safety drama's than the bigger names but I dont know which ones are which. Leaving that to the tour organisers to hopefully get right. 

Thanks mate.

Yeah did that in South Africa.  We were in each city for about 5 days so bought tickets to other games either side of the Australian games.  Saw 8 matches all up.  Including a fat Maradona in the technical area coaching Argentina.

Has anyone looked into which other games may work out well to try and get get individual tickets for alongside the australian games? Would love to check out a couple of other games that work out well with travel schedule for us. Just unsure without having been to Russia or a World Cup just how hard and expensive domestic travel will be to sort out.

Might just apply for tickets that appeal and if they turn out to be logistically too difficult re-sell them back.

Yeah got a flight from Samara to Sochi for about $200 Australian, going via Moscow. No doubt there'll be more on.

The train would take a while, but would be free and a lot of fun if you're travelling with people you can tolerate being around.

Just noticed Sochi is 2000 kms from the other venues.  Are flights easy in Russia?

That's weird because it asks you if you want to buy supporter tickets and then offers individual matches.

Yep, that's how I saw it. Guessing since each game is an individual 'ballot' you might get say 2 out of 3 (or all  3, or none) but packaging would make that process more difficult. 

I'm only doing the group stage so didn't look at conditional tickets for the knockouts. Applied for 3 other Moscow group games though. Hoping to jag one, and with luck it will be at Luzhniki. 80k peeps there would be a great experience.
  

So if I'm looking at the site correctly there is only the option to buy individual tickets for australian games? There isn't an option anywhere to buy a pass for all 3 matches is there? Also how many people here have applied for the conditional tickets for if we do get out of the group?

you should just be able to apply for individual match tickets. I applied for supporter tickets to Aus games and the Korean matches are available to me on the individual game tab. only games on the same day as the Aus games are unavailable.

Could be that you cant apply for supporter tickets for more than one country.

Edit: opps too slow.

Sorted. Australian*3 and Korean*1

To enter the stadium you won't need to supply it. If you are worried just photocopy your passport. I attended numerous matches during the confederations cup never saw people asked to show a passport.

The rest of my post is just general information for people.

I carry my passport in Russia as a resident. In my time of working in Moscow I was asked randomly to provide my passport to police once (more than 10 years ago). A lot of people worry about this when coming to Russia, it doesn't happen. They generally are focused on finding illegal immigrants. No chance they will target football fans (bad press). Unless you are there to cause trouble.  Most tourists don't carry passports in Russia.

You do require your passport for other means, if you wanted to catch the train (Bullet ideally) from Moscow to St Pete, then you would need to show your passport, you don't need it if it is inside Moscow. If you wanted to buy a sim card you will need your passport, sometimes stores can ask for a passport but this is not common. Generally speaking your hotel can keep the passport locked away (or you place it in a safe), they can provide a 'proof of stay' document (Ask for one if they don't) + you can photocopy your passport. This will keep your mind at ease.

If you wanted to travel by train to another city The FAN ID grants the right to use trains for free between the organizing cities of the World Cup, though the tickets must be pre-booked on the website designated by the Russian Government: http://tickets.transport2018.com/.

If you want to catch a cab I would suggest using Uber or Yandex Taxi (Like a Russian uber).

Everything I have said is "playing it safe" generally speaking the country is safe, and a fascinating place to visit. Just don't do anything stupid as Russians don't take too kindly when foreigners act like fuckwits in there country.

If you or anyone has any questions feel free to ask in this thread or inbox me.