The campaigns have been friendly but intense. And the results are finally out. Russia and Qatar have won the bid to host the FIFA World Cup finals in 2018 and 2022 respectively.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter

FIFA President Sepp Blatter announced the decision to journalists in Zurich after FIFA Executive Committee voted on the matter earlier today in a secret ballot.

He said the decisions followed a bidding process involving 11 nations seeking to host the world’s leading soccer show piece. Hosting the World Cup finals is associated with bringing the host huge economic boost especially through tourism and international publicity.

“For 2018 and 2022 we go to new lands, because the FIFA World Cup has never been in eastern Europe or the Middle East,” Blatter said.
This will be the first time both Russia and Qatar will host the World Cup finals and the two will count themselves lucky having beaten England, joint bids from Spain/Portugal and Netherlands/Belgium, United States, Japan, South Korea and Australia.

This is the first time in 44 years that more than one World Cup host nation was announced on the same day, and the decision is expected to give Qatar promoted by former French International Zinedine Zidane enough time to prepare to host the World cup finals in 2022.

Igor Shuvalov,  Russia’s deputy prime minister, promised that his country would justify the faith placed in them to host the world’s biggest sporting event. “You have entrusted us with the FIFA World Cup for 2018 and I can promise that you will never regret it. Let us make history together,”  he said.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar expressed gratitude for the honour of hosting the FIFA World Cup finals, and promised Qatar’s historic FIFA World Cup would meet all expectations.
Ultimate Media