Russia wins 2018 World Cup; Qatar gets 2022
ZURICH, Switzerland – Russia will host the World Cup in 2018 and Qatar will host the event four years later.
“We go to new lands,” said FIFA President Sepp Blatter of the vote by the FIFA executive committee today.
Russia beat competition from England, Spain-Portugal and Belgium-Netherlands.
The Eastern European country called on FIFA to help shape the country’s future, with bid officials saying the organisation could help Russia achieve its modernising mission more quickly.
Their bid was without Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who decided to stay at home despite long being heralded as “team captain” of the campaign.
Qatar beat competition from the United States, Australia, South Korea and Japan.
The Middle Eastern country presented the most technically ambitious plans for a World Cup, using its 30-minute presentation to underline how the tournament could unify a region ravaged by conflict.
