Russia Win 2018 World Cup & Qatar Win 2022 Bid
The secret ballot of the 22 members of FIFA’s executive committee have voted to award the 2018 World Cup to the favourites Russia and the 2022 World Cup to the small nation of Qatar. It is the first time that either nation has hosted the prestigious event.
The other bidders were Spain & Portugal, England, Holland & Belgium for the chance to host the 2018 World Cup and South Korea, Japan, Australia and the United States for the 2022 competition.
Russian deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said
“You have entrusted us with the FIFA World Cup for 2018 and I can promise you will never regret it.”
Russia received 9 votes in the first round of voting and 13 votes in the second round giving it the majority it needed.
President Putin broadcast a statement on Russian television in which he said
“Russia loves football, Russia knows what football is and in our country we have everything to conduct the 2018 World Cup on a very worthy level. The decision corresponds with Fifa’s philosophy for developing football, especially in those regions of the world where that development is needed.”
Qatar had to wait until a fourth round of voting in order to receive the majority that it needed for the 2022 vote.
Qatar is an oil rich country with an estimated population of under 2 million, it will be the first major sporting event held in the region and is a sign of how far the middle east has come over the last decade.
One thing will be certain, the country will have vast reserves of financing to throw at stadia and facilities. However, the country is a conservative Islamic nation that does not sit particularly with the alcohol and party atmosphere of a large sporting event.
Photo: warrenski
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