Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin could...
Requests by countries to host the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups had to be submitted to FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) by February 2009 and will be considered in December 2010 in Zurich, Switzerland. Russia submitted its bidding intention in time, proposing 13 cities as venues.
"You, Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin], have along with others received the invitation to take a relevant part in the ceremony. Everyone remembers your work when submitting our 2014 Sochi bid," said First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, who heads the bid organizing committee.
Shuvalov added that within FIFA there were hopes that the prime minister would play a major role. Putin did not commit himself, encouraging his deputy not to waste time waiting until state funding guarantees were in place.
"It is better to start now, not to wait until the papers are ready," Putin said, stressing that everything was on schedule.