Russia selected to host 2018 World Cup
08:33, 3 December 2010
MOSCOW. December 3. KAZINFORM Russia will host the 2018 World Cup, the FIFA Executive Committee in Switzerland's Zurich announced on Thursday; Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.
Russia won the bid for the first time in history after a tight race against England, Portugal and Spain (jointly), and Belgium and the Netherlands (jointly).
In two rounds of voting, Russia secured 22 votes. Spain and Portugal came in second place with 14 votes, followed by the Netherlands and Belgium and then England.
FIFA also chose Qatar to host the 2022 championships, selecting the oil-rich Arab country over bids from Australia, South Korea, the United States and Japan.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev congratulated all Russians and the organizers of the bid for the victory; Kazinform cites RIA Novosti.
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