2018 World Cup hosts Russia expects to welcome more than one million foreigners to the competition and a ‘fans law’ guaranteeing their safety has taken a step closer to the statute books.

Under the proposed law there will be visa-free entry to the country for fans arriving with match tickets and free travel between host cities.

New regulations are also being introduced to deal with troublemakers at sporting events in the lead up to the finals.

The law will dictate that public order offences at stadiums will be punished with a fine of up to 5,000 rubles which equals 500 dollars or a 15-day detention.