“Russia has a good chance to host World Cup 2018” – FIFA boss
Published: 15 October, 2009, 19:36
Edited: 16 October, 2009, 10:00
FIFA President Sepp. Blatter speaks during a Confederations Cup 2009 media press conference at Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa, Monday, June 29, 2009 (AFP Photo / Getty Images)
TAGS: Sport, Putin, Hiddink, Football
Russia has a “very good chance” to become the host of World Cup 2018 said FIFA President Sepp Blatter during his talks with Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
“I believe that the World Cup should leave a legacy, and this idea is coming to life here in Russia. That is why I feel a whole-hearted affinity for the Russian bid,” Sepp Blatter said, RIA-Novosti news agency reports.
Russia's bid, which was officially launched last Friday, has the full support of the government, with a high-level steering committee established under First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov.
“The very fact of carrying out such a major event would, without any doubt, give a boost to the development of football in the post-Soviet space and in Eastern Europe,” Putin said.
However, the prime minister disapproved of the Russia national team’s efforts at the weekend, saying that the players failed to meet the expectations of the country’s football lovers.
Guus Hiddink’s men lost their chance for automatic World Cup qualification after a home defeat to Germany, and will now try to win a spot in South Africa in the playoffs.
Despite setbacks, Russian football has been on the rise in recent years. The national team reached the semis at Euro 2008, and Zenit Saint Petersburg and CSKA Moscow both won the UEFA Cup.
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