World Cup exit strips Putin of cover for pension reforms

A survey conducted by FOM before Russia's World Cup exit showed Putin's approval rating down six points at 75 percent. Another by state pollster VTsIOM showed a five percentage point drop.

The World Cup took some of the sting out of that unpopularity. A survey conducted by the independent Levada Centre before Russia were eliminated showed the competition was occupying Russians' thoughts more than the pension plan.

Levada Centre sociologist Stepan Goncharov said this situation would now change.

"It's fair to say that the issue of pension reforms will return to the top (of the agenda) after the end of the tournament," he said.

The extent of popular outrage at the plan, which aims to ease pressure on state coffers from an ageing population and a struggling economy further weakened by sanctions, would depend on what the government did next, he said.

A final decision on what form it will take is expected in autumn.

Thousands of Russians protested this month against the planned rise in the retirement age, but there were no demonstrations in World Cup host cities because of security restrictions in place during the tournament.

The Kremlin this week shrugged off the idea it might face greater public pressure over the reforms once the World Cup ended.

"It is the job of experts to reach these conclusions," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "Let them do that."