Russia to host 2018 soccer World Cup

Thursday was an eventful day for the people of Russia and Qatar as their nations won the bid to host the World Cup 2018 and 2022 respectively.

Russia won the bid by defeating heavy weight contenders like England, and the joint bids from Spain-Portugal and Netherlands-Belgium.

The declaration was made by FIFA (F?d?ration Internationale de Football Association), president Sepp Blatter, after a secret ballot of 22 FIFA executive committee members in Zurich.

Similarly Qatar won the bid to host the 2022 World Cup in their nation by defeating countries like United States, Australia, South Korea and Japan in the vote.

With these two nations declared to host the World Cup, the world will witness players to fight for the cup in absolutely new countries where the Cup has not been staged earlier.

Meanwhile, the declaration also culminated one of the most controversial World Cup votes in years as FIFA had faced multiple corruption allegations, media reports said.

The World Cup 2010 was hosted by South Africa and the next event will be staged at Brazil in 2014.