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CSKA Moscow matchday, fan first

CSKA Moscow are the old Army club of Russian football: 7 Soviet and 6 Russian league titles, and the first Russian side to lift a European trophy with the 2005 UEFA Cup. Their VEB Arena home on Khodynka Field in north-west Moscow even has a skyscraper shaped like that UEFA Cup bolted onto one corner. This page covers the full fan journey: how tickets and the Fan ID (Karta Bolelshchika) work for the Russian Premier League, how to reach the ground on the CSKA metro stop, what to eat and drink near the arena and in the city, where to stay, and how to plan an overnight trip around a match. International visitors face travel and visa constraints beyond the scope of this page — check your own government's official advice before planning a trip.

Image: Denis BGRUS, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons — via Wikimedia Commons; final site use needs attribution/licence sign-off.

The answer-first version

Understand the club, get a ticket, pick a stand or route, plan food and a hotel, and find the fan culture around CSKA Moscow.

Founded1911-08-27
Capacity29,071 for Russian Premier League matches (record attendance 29,284, April 2018)
VEB Arena opened on 10 SeptemberVEB Arena opened on 10 September 2016 on Khodynka Field in north-west Moscow and holds 29,071 for Russian Premier League matches. It was built on CSKA's historic training-ground site.
One corner of VEB Arena carries One corner of VEB Arena carries a business-centre skyscraper designed to resemble the UEFA Cup, marking CSKA's 2005 win as the first Russian club to lift a major European trophy.
The nearest metro stop is CSKA sThe nearest metro stop is CSKA station on Line 11 (the Bolshaya Koltsevaya / Big Circle line), which opened on 26 February 2018. It allows an out-of-station transfer to Zorge on the Moscow Central Circle (Line 14).
A Fan ID (Karta Bolelshchika) isA Fan ID (Karta Bolelshchika) is required to attend Russian Premier League matches. The system became mandatory for top-flight Russian football from 2022, with the law in force from 1 June 2022.
CSKA Moscow and all Russian clubCSKA Moscow and all Russian clubs have been suspended from FIFA and UEFA competitions since 2022. UEFA extended the suspension to the 2026-27 season in June 2026. The club plays only in domestic Russian competitions.
In the 2025-26 Russian Premier LIn the 2025-26 Russian Premier League, Zenit Saint Petersburg won the title and CSKA Moscow finished 5th. The title was decided on the final matchday on 17 May 2026.
CSKA reached the 2026 Russian CuCSKA reached the 2026 Russian Cup but did not make the final, which Spartak Moscow won against Krasnodar on penalties on 24 May 2026.

Club facts and honours

CSKA trace their football roots to 1911 and grew up as the sports club of the Soviet Army — the full name translates as Central Sports Club of the Army. That military identity ran through the Soviet era, when the club won 7 top-flight championships. After the Soviet Union ended, CSKA became one of the dominant forces of the Russian Premier League, winning 6 Russian titles in the 2000s and 2010s. Their landmark moment came in 2004-05, when they beat Sporting CP 3-1 in Lisbon to become the first Russian club to win a major European trophy, the UEFA Cup. Russian clubs have been suspended from UEFA and FIFA competitions since 2022, so CSKA currently play only in domestic Russian football.

CompetitionResultYears / seasons
Soviet Top Leaguechampion1946, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1970, 1991
Russian Premier Leaguechampion2003, 2005, 2006, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2015-16
UEFA Cupwinner2004-05
Soviet Cupwinner1945, 1948, 1951, 1955, 1990-91
Russian Cupwinner2001-02, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2012-13, 2022-23, 2024-25

Tickets and stadium map

VEB Arena sits on Khodynka Field in north-west Moscow, on the club's historic training-ground site. The nearest metro is CSKA station on Line 11 (the Bolshaya Koltsevaya / Big Circle line), which opened on 26 February 2018 and whose lobby carries sculptures of famous CSKA athletes. Passengers can make an out-of-station transfer to Zorge on the Moscow Central Circle (Line 14). Older guides also point fans to Sokol or Aeroport on Line 2 and to the Aviapark area; with the CSKA metro stop now open, that is the closest approach. The arena is roughly 8.5 km from Red Square.

AddressTretya Peschanaya ulitsa 2A, Khodynka Field, Moscow, Russia
Postcode
Capacity29,071 for Russian Premier League matches (record attendance 29,284, April 2018)

To attend Russian Premier League matches, all supporters — including foreign visitors — need a Fan ID (Karta Bolelshchika), a personal supporter card that links your match ticket to your identity. The Fan ID was made mandatory for top-flight Russian football matches from 2022; the law came into force on 1 June 2022. Russian citizens apply through the official Gosuslugi government services portal. Check the official CSKA ticketing page and the Russian Premier League Fan ID page for the current process, as requirements can change. Buy through official CSKA channels only. Published guides list a broad price range for VEB Arena (roughly 300 to several thousand roubles depending on the seat and fixture, higher for big games). Use official sources for prices and do not promise availability or away allocation.

VEB Arena — where to go N PITCH Home / organised support endUEFA Cup tower corner Home Find your stand, then your tier and block. Approximate areas — not seat-exact · capacity 29,071 for Russian Premier League matches (record attendance 29,284, April 2018).
FanChants stand map — find your stand, tier and block area; the away end is marked. Click to enlarge. For your exact seat use the official plan.
Stand / areaWhat to sayStatus
Home / organised support endmain home and ultras supportcandidate
UEFA Cup tower cornerlandmark business-centre skyscraper built into one corner, shaped to resemble the UEFA Cupverified

CSKA Moscow chants

0 chants in the FanChants catalogue.

CSKA Moscow chants on FanChants [candidate]

Top chants

  • Catalogue count pending API.

Search hooks

  • CSKA Moscow chants
  • CSKA Moscow songs
  • CSKA Moscow fan chants
  • CSKA Moscow lyrics
  • CSKA Moscow anthem
  • CSKA Moscow player songs
  • Koni chants
  • VEB Arena chants

Food, drink and nights out

Option rows, not a single winner — different lanes for different fans.

near ground · family

Aviapark shopping mall food court

near ground · neutral · mixed

Aviapark, one of Europe's largest malls, sits a short walk from the arena with a big food court and chain restaurants. Practical, all-weather, family-friendly option for a pre-match meal.

Food court plus chain restaurants inside the Aviapark mall.

keep with caveat: Named in the stadiumguide.com VEB Arena guide as a short walk from the ground. One independent source; use as a practical near-ground option, not a quality food recommendation.

Sources: Arena CSKA / VEB Arena visitor guide — stadiumguide.com

near ground drink · near ground food

Yorkshire pub (south of the arena)

walkable to stadium · neutral · mid range

English-themed pub in the newer development south of the stadium, named in the stadium guide as a nearby matchday drinking option. No away-safety guarantee — check current guidance.

Pub food.

keep with caveat: Listed by stadiumguide.com as a nearby pub. One source only; verify it is still open and operating.

Sources: Arena CSKA / VEB Arena visitor guide — stadiumguide.com

city centre drink · city centre food

O'Hara's Irish Pub (Baumanskaya)

transit linked · neutral · mid range

Irish pub at 20 Ulitsa Fridrikha Engelsa near Baumanskaya metro, listed in the football-stadiums.co.uk guide with more than fifty types of whiskey. A central pre-match option, not a near-ground one.

Pub food.

keep with caveat: Named in the football-stadiums.co.uk VEB Arena guide. One source; verify current operation.

Sources: VEB Arena stadium guide — football-stadiums.co.uk

city centre drink · city centre food

Liga Pap sports bar (Chistiye Prudy)

transit linked · neutral · mid range

Sports bar at 24 Ulitsa Bolshaya Lubyanka near Chistiye Prudy metro, listed in the stadium guide with over 20 HD screens. Good for watching the build-up in the city before heading out to the arena.

Bar food.

keep with caveat: Named in the football-stadiums.co.uk guide. One source; verify current operation.

Sources: VEB Arena stadium guide — football-stadiums.co.uk

city centre drink · city centre food

Bobby Dazzler English pub (Chistiye Prudy)

transit linked · neutral · mid range

English-themed pub at 7/13 Kostyansky Pereulok near Chistiye Prudy metro, named in the football-stadiums.co.uk guide. A central pre-match option for fans staying in the city.

English pub food.

keep with caveat: Named in the football-stadiums.co.uk guide. One source; verify current operation.

Sources: VEB Arena stadium guide — football-stadiums.co.uk

transit linked · city centre food

Leningradsky Avenue restaurants (near Sokol)

transit linked · neutral · mixed

The stadium guide points fans toward the cluster of restaurants along Leningradsky Avenue near Sokol metro, on the approach from central Moscow toward the arena. A district-level option for a meal on the way to the ground.

Mix of restaurants and cafes along Leningradsky Avenue near Sokol.

keep with caveat: District-level area named by stadiumguide.com; no single venue independently reviewed. Use as a district suggestion, not a named-venue recommendation.

Sources: Arena CSKA / VEB Arena visitor guide — stadiumguide.com

at stadium · home fan · away fan

VEB Arena stadium concourses

at stadium · neutral · unknown

Food and drink inside VEB Arena. Use as a practical fallback, not as the main food recommendation.

Stadium concourse food and drink. Menus not confirmed from a current official source.

fallback only: Stadium facilities exist; specific menus and any cashless policy require a current check.

Sources: PFC CSKA Moscow official website (English)

city centre food · city centre drink · night out

Tverskaya Street restaurants and bars

city centre · neutral · mixed

Tverskaya Street and the surrounding district is central Moscow's main commercial and dining strip — a wide choice for a pre-match meal or post-match drink on an overnight trip, with a direct metro run out toward the arena.

Dense selection of restaurants, cafes and bars along Moscow's central boulevard.

keep with caveat: Established central Moscow dining district. District-level row only; no individual venue reviewed.

Sources: Arena CSKA / VEB Arena visitor guide — stadiumguide.com

Hotels

Area and fit, not prices. Prices and availability stay live-check fields.

HotelFitWhy it belongsSource
ART Hotel (arena-adjacent)near ground · stadium accessHotel described in stadium guides as literally next door to the arena, with a beer garden and good ratings. The pick for fans who want to be on the doorstep of VEB Arena.
keep with caveat: Named by stadiumguide.com as next to the arena with a beer garden and good ratings. One source; confirm it is still operating and bookable.
Arena CSKA / VEB Arena visitor guide — stadiumguide.com
Triumph Boutique Hotelnear ground · premiumListed in the stadium guide as the upmarket option in the area for fans who want a more polished stay near the arena.
hold: One source listing only (stadiumguide.com). Needs an independent guest-review signal before upgrading verdict.
Arena CSKA / VEB Arena visitor guide — stadiumguide.com
Hotel Sokoltransit linked · budgetAffordable option near Sokol metro listed in the stadium guide, on the approach toward the arena from central Moscow. Practical for budget-minded fans using the metro.
hold: One source listing only. No independent guest-review signal captured. Hold until verified.
Arena CSKA / VEB Arena visitor guide — stadiumguide.com
Marriott Moscow Grand Hotel (city centre)city centre night out · premium · football plus cityCentral international-brand hotel listed in the football-stadiums.co.uk guide (387 rooms, indoor pool). Use for fans combining a city trip with the match rather than prioritising stadium proximity; reach the arena by metro.
keep with caveat: Named by football-stadiums.co.uk with room count and facilities. One source; confirm current operation and booking.
VEB Arena stadium guide — football-stadiums.co.uk
Central Moscow hotels (Tverskaya / Arbat district)city centre night out · tourist · football plus cityCentral Moscow hotels near Tverskaya or the Arbat put fans within reach of the metro out to the CSKA stop or a taxi to the arena. Use for fans combining a city break with the match.
keep with caveat: District-level row drawing on the stadium guides. No individual hotel reviewed. Use as area guidance only.
Arena CSKA / VEB Arena visitor guide — stadiumguide.com, VEB Arena stadium guide — football-stadiums.co.uk

Itineraries

Home fan: central Moscow to VEB Arena by metro

  1. Eat and drink in central Moscow — Tverskaya Street or the Leningradsky Avenue cluster near Sokol give the widest choice.
  2. Take the metro toward CSKA station on Line 11 (the Big Circle line); it is the closest stop and opened in 2018 with CSKA athlete sculptures in the lobby.
  3. From CSKA station, walk the short distance to the arena.
  4. Arrive 45-60 minutes early and allow time to clear the Fan ID check at the turnstiles.

Metro routing verified from the Wikipedia station article. Confirm current Line 11 service before publishing transport copy.

Near-ground matchday with Aviapark and a pub

  1. Use the Aviapark mall food court near the arena for an all-weather pre-match meal.
  2. Have a pre-match drink at the Yorkshire pub south of the stadium (a near-ground lead — verify it is open and check any matchday restrictions).
  3. Walk to the arena from the CSKA metro exit or the mall.
  4. Get inside early to clear the Fan ID check.

Near-ground food/pub details from stadiumguide.com only. Verify current operation before publishing. Do not use for away fans without specific official guidance.

Tower-and-tour stadium day

  1. Book a VEB Arena tour through official channels — guides list a Tower Tour of the UEFA Cup-shaped skyscraper among the options.
  2. Combine it with a walk around Khodynka Field and the Aviapark area.
  3. Return to central Moscow for dinner, or use the near-ground options before an evening match.

Tour types and prices are indicative from independent guides. Confirm the current tour schedule through official CSKA channels before publishing.

Football plus a Moscow city break

  1. Stay central (Tverskaya / Arbat district) to cover Red Square, the Kremlin and Gorky Park.
  2. Eat on Tverskaya or near Sokol before the match.
  3. Take the metro out to CSKA station for the game.
  4. After the match, metro or taxi back to central Moscow for the night.

Sightseeing venues need current hours checked. International visitors must check Russian visa and travel requirements independently — this itinerary cannot substitute for official government advice.

Supporters and fan media

GroupTypeGeographyPublic page
CSKA Moscow official supporter informationofficial fan club catalogueRussia / globalPublic page
CSKA 'Koni' fan identityfan culture identityMoscow / globalPublic page

Video leads

Creator/research leads only — no embedding, cropping, transcription or clip extraction until permission and platform terms are cleared.

Social content seeds

honours · qa_hold

First Russian club to win Europe: CSKA's 2005 UEFA Cup

CSKA beat Sporting CP 3-1 in Lisbon in 2004-05 to become the first Russian club to win a major European trophy. The win is permanently marked at VEB Arena by a corner skyscraper shaped like the UEFA Cup.

Channels: website · x · facebook · instagram · newsletter

Sources: PFC CSKA Moscow — Wikipedia, VEB Arena — Wikipedia

identity history · qa_hold

The Army club: CSKA's Soviet and Russian title record

CSKA grew up as the sports club of the Soviet Army — 7 Soviet top-flight titles, then 6 Russian Premier League titles in the 2000s and 2010s. The red-and-blue and the 'Koni' nickname carry that Army heritage.

Channels: website · x · facebook · instagram · newsletter

Sources: PFC CSKA Moscow — Wikipedia

stadium logistics · qa_hold

VEB Arena: the metro stop named after the club

CSKA station on Moscow's Line 11 opened in 2018 with sculptures of famous CSKA athletes in the lobby, and is the closest metro stop to VEB Arena on Khodynka Field.

Channels: website · x · facebook · instagram · short video

Sources: CSKA (Moscow Metro) — Wikipedia, VEB Arena — Wikipedia

ticketing · qa_hold

Fan ID: what you need to get into VEB Arena

Russian Premier League matches need a Fan ID (Karta Bolelshchika) — a personal supporter card that links your ticket to your identity, mandatory for top-flight football since 2022. Domestic fans apply through official channels; check the official CSKA and RPL pages for the current process.

Channels: website · newsletter · facebook

Sources: Russian Premier League Fan ID (Karta Bolelshchika) — official page, PFC CSKA Moscow — Wikipedia

stadium logistics · qa_hold

The UEFA Cup tower on the corner of the ground

One corner of VEB Arena carries a business-centre skyscraper built to resemble the UEFA Cup — a permanent monument to CSKA's 2005 win, and one of the more unusual stadium features in European football.

Channels: website · x · instagram · short video

Sources: VEB Arena — Wikipedia

Image candidates and rights

ImageLicenceCreatorState
VEBArena.jpgCreative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 InternationalDenis BGRUScandidate
VEB Arena 2017.jpgCreative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported (also GFDL)Dmitry Golubovich (Дмитрий Голубович)candidate

QA holds before publishing

  • Re-check Fan ID (Karta Bolelshchika) requirements and the official registration channel against current CSKA and Russian Premier League sources before any fixture-specific copy publishes.
  • International travel to Russia faces significant constraints as of June 2026. Do not frame this page as a guide for foreign visitors without adding a clear note directing them to official government travel advice for their country.
  • Russian clubs — including CSKA Moscow — have been suspended from UEFA and FIFA competitions since 2022, extended to 2026-27 in June 2026. State this neutrally with a dated source label and no political commentary; re-check status before publishing.
  • Honours: keep Soviet Top League (7) and Russian Premier League (6) titles strictly separate. The 2005 UEFA Cup 'first Russian club' claim stays tied to the European-trophy framing.
  • Stadium name: the current name is VEB Arena (opened as Arena CSKA; VEB naming rights from 28 February 2017). Capacity is the RPL figure 29,071 from the stadium reference. Always link the official stadium page.
  • Metro routing (CSKA station, Line 11, opened 2018) verified. Confirm current Line 11 service before publishing transport copy. Older guides cite Sokol/Aeroport — the CSKA stop is now the closest.
  • Venue rows (Aviapark, Yorkshire, O'Hara's, Liga Pap, Bobby Dazzler, Leningradsky Avenue, Tverskaya, stadium concourse) are from independent stadium guides only. All are leads — verify current operation in browser before publishing.
  • Hotel rows (ART Hotel, Triumph Boutique, Hotel Sokol, Marriott Grand, central district) are from independent stadium guides. All are leads — verify current operation, reviews and availability before publishing.
  • Image rows have exact licence fields from Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 4.0 (Denis BGRUS) and CC BY-SA 3.0 (Dmitry Golubovich). Share-alike applies. Verify visually for crest/sponsor/logo risk before production use.
  • Rivalry rows (Spartak Main Moscow Derby, Dynamo) and the 'Koni' fan-culture row are safety-sensitive and need Mikey sign-off before publishing.
  • Do not promise ticket availability, specific prices, ballot success or hotel availability.
  • No tune/source-work leakage, no stadium-recording claim, no 100%-clearance language, no single-best venue recommendation, no Wikipedia copy-paste.
  • All social_content_pack rows are qa_hold. No row is cleared for production posting without a separate sign-off.

Sources

  1. PFC CSKA Moscow official website (English)
  2. PFC CSKA Moscow official website (Russian)
  3. PFC CSKA Moscow — Wikipedia
  4. VEB Arena — Wikipedia
  5. CSKA (Moscow Metro) — Wikipedia
  6. 2025-26 Russian Premier League — Wikipedia
  7. 2026 Russian Cup final — Wikipedia
  8. Russian Premier League Fan ID (Karta Bolelshchika) — official page
  9. UEFA extends competition ban on Russian teams and clubs for 2026/27 season — Euronews
  10. Main Moscow derby — Wikipedia
  11. CSKA vs Spartak: Moscow's biggest soccer rivalry — Russia Beyond
  12. CSKA — Russiapedia (Of Russian origin)
  13. Arena CSKA / VEB Arena visitor guide — stadiumguide.com
  14. VEB Arena stadium guide — football-stadiums.co.uk
  15. PFC CSKA Moscow official social accounts (X / Instagram / VK / Facebook)
  16. VEBArena.jpg — Wikimedia Commons
  17. VEB Arena 2017.jpg — Wikimedia Commons
  18. FanChants internal songbook join

FanChants is not affiliated with CSKA Moscow. Songs are sent in by fans; FanChants does not claim to record inside stadiums.