Qatar, Russia Defeat England, US Others In World Cup Bid

By Dimeji Ogedengbe
It was jubilation and cheers in Zurich, Switzerland earlier today, Thursday, December 2 2010 as the FIFA president Sepp Blatter and 22 other executive members announced Russia and Qatar as the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups – beating heavy-weight England and United States to the bid.

The Russian bid was picked ahead of England, Spain-Portugal and Holland-Belgium to host the 2018 event while Qatar got won over the United States, Australia, Japan and South Korea to stage the tournament in 2022.

It is the first time Russia and Qatar would be hosting the World Cup.

‘Thank you for believing in change, thank you for believing in expanding the game, thank you for giving Qatar a chance. We will not let you down. You will be proud of us, you will be proud of the Middle East and I promise you this’, Qatar’s bid chairman, Sheikh Mohammad bin Hamad Al-Thani, pledged after the announcement.