FIFA World cup 2018 Schedule has awarded Russia the right to host the 2018 World Cup finals after the country's bid got the most votes from 22 executive associates of FIFA at a secret ballot held in Zurich.
Spain-Portugal, Holland-Belgium and England were the three other bids in the fray. The selection process involved multiple rounds of voting, together with the nation getting the fewest votes eliminated in each round.
As many as 15 bids were obtained from countries aspiring to host the 2018 occasion, and Russia won a majority of 13 votes, at the second round of voting, after devoting nine at the first. The Spain-Portugal joint bid received seven votes.
The championship in Russia will span 13 cities, all in the country's European area, in a bid to facilitate easier access. In its bid Russia promised to scrap visas throughout the 2018 championship and this is seen as a significant factor in the vote at the nation's favour.
The ballot in Zurich also picked the host of the 2022 championship, which was given to Qatar. The oil-rich Middle-Eastern nation won from rival bids from the United States, Japan and South Korea, in the final round of voting. Australia that had bid for the 2022 World Cup was ousted in the first round of voting.
Mexico which had earlier bid to sponsor the 2022 championship withdrew its bidding citing financial reasons.
Neither Russia nor Qatar has hosted the event previously. The awarding of these tournaments to these two countries has brought an end to a controversial voting process together with allegations of corruption that led to the suspension of two executive team members.