MOSCOW (Sputnik) — In April, Infantino visited Russia and Qatar to hold meetings with the respective heads of state, President Vladimir Putin and Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani. The FIFA head noted that Russia was on track in its preparations and expressed full confidence that, based on what he had seen, the 2018 World Cup would be one of the most successful contests ever.
"Work is going on. We hear the reports. I was very very pleased with these meetings because there is a real engagement in doing the right things for FIFA, for the World Cup and for football," Infantino said during the FIFA Congress in Mexico.
In 2010, Russia and Qatar were awarded the rights to host the FIFA World Cup championships in 2018 and 2022, respectively.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup will be held from June 14 to July 15 in 11 Russian cities, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Rostov-on-Don, Sochi and Volgograd.
