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Russia to host World Cup in 2018, Qatar in 2022

02 December 2010 17:05 (UTC +04:00)

The executive committee of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) -- comprising just 22 men -- voted in Zurich Thursday. Moments later, FIFA President Joseph Blatter revealed their decision to the worldâ€™s media. "The 2018 FIFA World Cup will be organized in Russia," Blatter told reporters. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov spoke on behalf of his delegation. "You have entrusted us with FIFA World Cup for 2018, and I just can promise, we all can promise, you will never regret. Let us make history together."

After congratulating the Russian delegation, Blatter turned his attention to the 2022 tournament. "The winner to organize the 2022 World Cup is Qatar," he said to cheers from the crowd.

Qatarâ€™s Sheikh Mohammed al-Thani then took the stage.

"Thank you for believing in change, thank you for believing in expanding the game, thank you for giving Qatar the chance. You will be proud of us and you will be proud of the Middle East, I promise you this," al-Thani said.

England, Russia, Belgium/Netherlands and Spain/Portugal were all in the running for 2018, while the five bidders for 2022 were the United States, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Qatar.

Since its inaugural tournament in 1930, FIFAâ€™s World Cup has grown in political and economic importance. It is now one of the most-watched television events in the world.

The next World Cup tournament is slated for Brazil in 2014.