Zurich/Moscow, 2 December 2010 – Russia has today been awarded the hosting of the 2018 FIFA World Cup™. Following two days of meetings and presentations, the FIFA Executive Committee took this momentous decision as early as in the second round of voting when 13 members of this body voted in favour of the Russian bid. Only hours after the decision, the Prime Minister of Russia, Vladimir Putin, arrived in Zurich to meet with FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter to personally confirm Russia’s commitment.
For the first time in the history of FIFA and the FIFA World Cup™, football’s premier global event will go east. In 2018, the twenty-first edition of FIFA’s flagship event will take place in Russia.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who travelled to Zurich following the announcement, promised Russia’s full commitment and support to make this tournament a huge success: “You can take my word for it that the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ in Russia will be up to the highest standards. New modern stadiums and facilities will be built on time and to perfection.”
Earlier on, First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, who had headed the delegation at the final presentation, stated: “FIFA will not regret this decision – let us make history together!”
Russia were the last of the four European bidders for the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ to make their 30 minute presentation at the Home of FIFA to the 22 members of the Executive Committee of the world-governing football body. Besides First Deputy Prime Minister Shuvalov, Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko (who is also a member of the FIFA Executive), national team captain Andrey Arshavin and Yelena Isinbayeva, twice Olympic gold medallist and world-record holder in pole vaulting. Together they stated an emotional case on behalf of Russia, orchestrated by bid CEO Alexey Sorokin who acted as Master of Ceremony.
On the eve of the decision, Prime Minister Putin had informed FIFA that he would refrain from attending the final presentation to allow the FIFA Executive Committee to make its important decisions calmly and without pressure, adding that in the case Russia were chosen, he would personally meet with President Blatter to discuss the staging of the FIFA World Cup™ in 2018.
By way of letters of thanks, the Russian bid committee saluted their rivals from England, Spain/Portugal and Holland/Belgium and commended them for their impeccable attitude in this bidding contest.
Following the designation as the World Cup host country by FIFA, senior representatives of the Russian bid committee and the Russian Football Union are now working towards the formal constitution of the Local Organising Committee for the 2018 FIFA World Cup™.
For more information:
Russia Bid Committee for the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup™
Julia Cooper, Communications Manager Phone: +7 495 660 49 80
E-mail: [email protected]
Andreas Herren, International Media Coordinator Mobile: +41 (79) 799 0046
E-mail: [email protected]
