Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has said that Russia will provide visa-free entrance for football fans with fan IDs until the end of 2018.

Putin was present in Moscow Luzhniki Stadium during the World Cup final between France and Croatia yesterday.

France won the match 4-2 and lifted the trophy for the second time in history.

Putin told reporters yesterday, “I think that we will provide visa-free entrance to Russia for foreign fans, who currently have fan IDs, until the end of 2018. This will be a multiple entry visa-free regime.”

The Russian leader expressed hope that fans will take advantage of this opportunity and “come to Russia more than once with friends and members of their families.”

Russia crashed out of the competition earlier after they lost to eventual finalists, Croatia in the quarterfinals.