STRELNA (St. Petersburg) (Sputnik) – FIFA President Joseph Blatter assured Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday that the 2018 World Cup will be held in Russia, pointing out that this is important in light of the current geopolitical climate.
At a meeting ahead of preliminary draws in Konstantinovsky Palace in Strelna, Saint Petersburg, Blatter underscored the world football governing body’s full support for Russian preparations for the World Cup.
He added that the support of the FIFA Executive Committee and its recent resolution backing Russian efforts are instrumental at the present geopolitical situation.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup will be held from June 14 to July 15 in 11 Russian cities, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan and Sochi.