Russia will host World Cup in 2018
By Associated Press
Dec 2, 2010 9:38 AM CST
Johan Cruyff, left, ambassador of the Holland Belgium bid, and the delegation are welcomed by FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke, right, as they arrive at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010, to present their bid to host the soccer World Cup 2018. (AP Photo/Keystone,...   (Associated Press)

Russia will host the World Cup in 2018.

The country was awarded the tournament Thursday in a vote by the FIFA executive committee. It beat competition from England, Spain-Portugal and Belgium-Netherlands.

Russia called on FIFA to help shape the country's future, with bid officials saying the organization could help Russia achieve its modernizing mission more quickly.

The bid was without Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who decided to stay at home despite long being heralded as "team captain" of the campaign.

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