Russia, Qatar get the nod
Published:Friday | December 3, 2010 | 12:00 AM
ZURICH, Switzerland (CMC):
Russia has been named to host the 2018 World Cup after FIFA yesterday took the multi-billion US dollar showpiece to Eastern Europe for the first time.
The successful Russian bid, backed by the country's powerful Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, beat out a strong one from England, who had made a furious last-ditch lobbying effort in recent days to secure the tournament.
Handsome majority
In a secret ballot of FIFA's 22 executive members, including Trinidad and Tobago government minister Jack Warner, Russia copped nine votes in the first round of voting before securing a handsome majority of 13 in the second round.
Joint bids from Spain-Portugal and The Netherlands/Belgium were rejected.
Qatar, meanwhile, will stage the 2022 event, as they were picked ahead of enterprising bids from United States and Australia.
FIFA's choice of Qatar also represents the first time a World Cup will be staged in the Middle East, further enhancing the organisation's vision of taking the sport to every part of the globe.
Russia's selection, however, was praised by Putin, who immediately announced he would travel to Zurich to thank FIFA.