MOSCOW (AP) " Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into law the visa-free system for fans visiting the 2018 World Cup. Few countries outside the former Soviet Union and South America have visa-free access to Russia, with U.S. and European Union citizens among those usually required to apply for visas. A similar system was in place for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, with spectators entering personal information in an online database in order to receive the identification document from the Russian authorities. Fans who have tickets and have been issued a "fan ID" by the Russian government will be allowed to enter Russia without a visa for the period surrounding the tournament, according to the legislation published online.

Source: New Zealand Herald July 04, 2016 12:56 UTC