Pictures and video footage of the fire circulated by Russian media showed thick smoke rising from the venue, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

The fire is the third blaze reported to have hit World Cup venues under construction in Russia since June, and came hours after global governing body Fifa said Russia was on track with its preparations to host the World Cup but that much work remained to be done.

In June, a similar fire broke out at the World Cup stadium in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, which is also being built by Stroytransgaz.

Authorities attributed that blaze to lax safety regulations.

In August, another fire broke out at a World Cup venue in Samara, which has been plagued with delays over the past months.

Russia will host the World Cup, which starts June 14, in 12 venues in 11 cities, including Moscow, St Petersburg, Sochi and Kazan.