Putin talks up Russia´s hopes to host World Cup

Russia has “a good chance” of organising the 2018 World Cup, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.

“I think that our country has a good chance of being awarded the organisation of this competition,” Putin said, as reported by the Interfax news agency.

Addressing the requirements for prospective host countries set out by world football governing body FIFA, Putin said that a number of “taxation problems” would be sorted out.

FIFA demands that host countries provide specific taxation and customs facilities as well as easing entry requirements to the country for players, officials and supporters, Putin noted.

Russia’s rivals for the organisation of the 2018 tournament are the United States, Australia, England, Japan, the Netherlands/Belgium, Mexico and Spain/Portugal.

Towards the end of 2009, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said that Russia had “a good chance” of being chosen as hosts, during a meeting with Putin in Moscow. Russia has never previously organised a World Cup finals tournament.

This year’s World Cup takes place in South Africa, with the 2014 tournament to occur in Brazil.