Thousands of Manchester United and Chelsea fans were still arriving in Moscow Wednesday for the history-making all-English Champions League final, reported CNN.
Thirty-two flights from Manchester were to arrive at Sheremetyevo in north Moscow, with dozens more carrying Chelsea fans to the city's two other international airports.
The match at the Luzhniki Stadium kicks off at 10:45pm local time, and if the game goes to extra-time and a shootout the new champion will not be crowned until 1:30am
Trains on the Moscow subway system are running two hours later than usual to accommodate the estimated 42,000 English fans traveling to the match.
However, supporters, many of whom will fly out again soon after the final whistle, remained unfazed.
"We don't care how late it kicks off, as long as we win," said United fan Jimmy Westmancoat, who flew out from England on Monday.
Chelsea fan Ian Spillet, whose wife encouraged him to travel to Moscow, told CNN that his side were the "new kids on the block" compared to United.
"I've supported Chelsea for a long time and it's the biggest game in the club's history."
He and friends had booked a table at a city restaurant for 5pm to begin their build-up with a few "beers and vodkas."
The late kick-off has provoked concerns that British fans will drink all day in the lead up to the match, and has seen an unprecedented security operation by Russian police.
Video Watch how Moscow is preparing to deal with English football fans "
Up to 14,500 security personnel will be deployed across Moscow. Around 700 buses will be used to take fans arriving at the city's airports to the stadium to limit the risk of trouble in the city center. Rival fans will also be steered into separate areas in the build-up to kick-off.
Fans arriving at Moscow's airports were being handed pamphlets containing advice on how to behave, CNN's Don Riddell said. Eighteen British police officers were also working with Moscow police to identify potential troublemakers, while restrictions on known hooligans were in place to prevent them leaving the UK.
Moscow police said they had arrested a group of touts trying to sell eight tickets for $6,300 apiece, news agencies reported.
Meanwhile, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has played down fears about the state of the pitch for Wednesday's Champions League final.
The stadium, which had an artificial surface, has been relayed with grass for the final and even Matthew Frost, the British groundsman overseeing the project, told BBC radio that he was "totally disappointed."
"It's acceptable but it's a big personal disappointment for me and the project as a whole because things haven't gone very well from the start," Frost said. "That's Russia, I'm afraid. It's not a perfect world."
Football great and FIFA executive committee member Franz Beckenbauer also expressed his concerns.
""This is the most prestigious club game in Europe and the players really deserve a top quality surface."
However, Ferguson, after watching his team train on the pitch, told Manchester United's Web site that he was not worried.
""I've got no concerns," said Ferguson. "UEFA have done their best. I'm delighted they relayed it. You have to remind yourself that Old Trafford in December and January isn't the best. I think it will be fine."
English weather was expected -- with rain, gusts and thunderstorms forecast, according to the Moscow weather center.
However, Chelsea manager Avram Grant said it was a real thrill for the team and its owner, the Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, to be playing in Moscow.
"He [Ambramovich] has always dreamed of being in the final here, but it is a dream of every supporter of Chelsea to be in the final for the first time."
It is the first time two English clubs have reached the final of European football's premier competition.
United its seeking its third Champions Cup title following victories in 1968 over Benfica and 1999 against Bayern Munich. Chelsea is in the final for the first time.