Saransk is the capital of Mordovia and it gained a degree of fame during the 2018 FIFA World Cup when it became a host-city. It was the smallest and least famous of the host-cities and not an obvious choice, but the legacy of this event can be seen in the new international-level stadium and many new sporting venues and academies, as Saransk aims to become a sporting centre of Russia. As the Mordovian capital it is also a showcase of the culture of the Mordvins, who are really two related but separate people: the Mokshas and Erzyas.