Russia will host the 2018 World Cup and Qatar will host the soccer tournament four years later in 2022, the World Cup’s governing body announced Thursday.
Qatar, a small but wealthy nation in the Middle East, beat out much larger nations for the bid, including the United States. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Thani, the son of Qatar’s ruling emir and head of the nation’s bid team, said he was excited for what will be the first time the international soccer tournament has been held in a Middle Easter country.
“Thank you for believing in change, for expanding the game and for giving Qatar a chance. You will be proud of us – and you will be proud of the Middle East. I promise you this,” he said.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter said the decision to give the tournament to Qatar was based partly on the desire to see soccer grow in different parts of the world.
“I have to say thanks to the executive committee because for 2018 and 2022 we go to new lands, because the FIFA World Cup has never been in Eastern Europe or the Middle East. So, I’m a happy president when we speak of the development of football,” he said.
Russia has pledged to spend billions of dollars building infrastructure of stadiums to support the tournament. Russia topped bids from England and joint proposals from Belgium, Netherlands and Spain, Portugal for the chance to host what will be the world’s largest sporting even in 2018.
“You have entrusted us with the FIFA World Cup for 2018 and I can promise that you will never regret it. Let us make history together,” Russian delegate Igor Shuvalov told officials at the announcement ceremony in Zurich.
Australia, South Korea, Japan and the United States of America were favorites and considered front-runners to host at least one World Cup event. Former President Clinton and Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman were representatives for the US.