Thursday, December 2, 2010

FIFA World cup 2018 in Russia

FIFA's World Cup will be held in Qatar in 2022, the leading body said in a press conference Thursday.

The tiny, wealthy Middle Eastern nation beat out the United States, Japan, South Korea and Australia to host what will be the main sporting event in the world in 2022. FIFA president Sepp Blatter confirmed that the ruling body's wish to grow the sport around the world played a big part in the committee's thinking.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup will be held in Russia, the sport's governing body publicized Thursday. The Russian government has promised billions of dollars to build new stadiums and infrastructure. A tournament in Russia would also open a enormous, relatively untapped market for FIFA, which has awarded World Cups to South Africa in 2010 and Japan and South Korea in 2002 for similar reasons.

Russia beat out England and joint bids from Spain/Portugal and Belgium/Netherlands to host what will be the main sporting event in the world in 2018. It will be the first time the contest has been held in Eastern Europe.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin certain against attending the ceremony in Zurich, but his deputy Igor Shuvalov was present to accept the first successful bid from Eastern Europe.

"You have entrusted us with the FIFA World Cup for 2018 and I can promise that you will never feel sorry it. Let us make history together," he told the assembled delegates.