Russia won the bid on Thursday to host the 2018 World Cup after a tight race against England, Portugal and Spain (jointly), and Belgium and the Netherlands (jointly).
© RIA Novosti . Georgiy Kurolesin / Go to the mediabankRussia won the bid on Thursday to host the 2018 World Cup after a tight race against England, Portugal and Spain (jointly), and Belgium and the Netherlands (jointly).
Russia won the bid on Thursday to host the 2018 World Cup after a tight race against England, Portugal and Spain (jointly), and Belgium and the Netherlands (jointly).
© RIA Novosti . Alexandr Vilf / Go to the mediabankFIFA 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. In the photo: FIFA President Sepp Blatter
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. In the photo: FIFA President Sepp Blatter
© RIA Novosti . Alexandr Vilf / Go to the mediabankRussian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, right, and Russian Football Union President Sergei Fursenko assured FIFA that Russia will not disappoint the federation.
Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, right, and Russian Football Union President Sergei Fursenko assured FIFA that Russia will not disappoint the federation.
© RIA Novosti . Alexandr Vilf / Go to the mediabankOlympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva, who spoke during the bid's presentation, asked FIFA to let the dream of millions of Russian football fans come true.
Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva, who spoke during the bid's presentation, asked FIFA to let the dream of millions of Russian football fans come true.
© RIA Novosti . Alexandr Vilf / Go to the mediabankThe Russian delegation also included supermodel Natalia Vodianova...
The Russian delegation also included supermodel Natalia Vodianova...
...opera star Anna Netrebko...
© RIA Novosti . Alexandr Vilf / Go to the mediabankChelsea owner Roman Abramovich (in the photo), football star Andrei Arshavin, prominent conductor Valery Gergiyev, etc.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich (in the photo), football star Andrei Arshavin, prominent conductor Valery Gergiyev, etc.