FIFA Presidential Hopeful Urges to Hold 'Best Ever' World Cup in Russia

© Sputnik / Igor Zarembo / Go to the mediabankThe official hashtag of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which Russian will host, stands in front of the Konigsberg Cathedral, Kaliningrad
The official hashtag of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which Russian will host, stands in front of the Konigsberg Cathedral, Kaliningrad - Sputnik International
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The general secretary of the European football governing body and one of five eligible candidates for the FIFA presidency, Gianni Infantino, said Friday he wanted to focus on holding the "best World Cup ever" in Russia and Qatar, if elected next month.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia outbid England, Portugal, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands to win World Cup 2018 hosting rights on December 2, 2010. Qatar was awarded the 2022 honors over four candidates, including the United States.

"It’s five years now after the voting took place and for five years we’ve been hearing a lot of speculation but never any concrete evidence of any wrongdoing. Therefore, now we should really focus on delivering the best World Cup ever in Russia 2018 and in Qatar 2022," Infantino told the R-Sport agency.

Vitaly Mutko, Minister of Sport and President of the Russiasn Football Union, attending a press briefing on FIFA and Russia-2018 Organizing Committee visits to 2018 world football championship stadiums - Sputnik International
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His opponent, FIFA Vice-President Prince Ali Bin Hussein, has announced earlier his readiness to reconsider the 2018 and 2022 bids if serious wrongdoing during the bidding process was proven in court.

Infantino, who said he has visited Russia "on several occasions in the recent past," stressed the "excellent work" carried out by the Russian Football Union and the Local Organizing Committee.

"So let’s work together to make Russia 2018 a huge success," he underscored.

The next president of the world football governing body, whose previous leader and his associate have been suspended from all football-related activities last month, is expected to be elected on February 26.

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