Russia to host 2018 World Cup; Qatar win 2022 bid

Russia have won the right to host the 2018 World Cup, while Qatar will host the competition in 2022 after a vote was taken by FIFA delegates in Zurich this afternoon.

Russia saw off rival bids from England, Netherlands/Belgium and Spain/Portugal for the 2018 World Cup, while Qatar won the bid for 2022 after beating off competition from Australia, USA, Japan and South Korea for the right to host the competition.

England had been the favourites to win the right to host the competition, but unconfirmed reports prior to the announcement of the winners by FIFA President Sepp Blatter suggested that England went out in the first round of voting and that Russia and Qatar were to emerge victorious.

Those unconfirmed reports became confirmed a few minutes later when Sepp Blatter announced the winners after a ridiculous and entirely unnecessary bout of waffling from the controversial Switzerland native.

The recent Panorama investigations into England’s World Cup bid, which accused three FIFA executive members of accepting corrupt payments were thought to have harmed England’s chances, despite the claim from UEFA President Michel Platini that the programme would have no effect on the voting delegates.

Rumours about the reasons behind England's failed bid will dominate the headlines in the coming days and weeks, but the outcome of today's vote will not change and the Russian delegation were understandable elated once the results had been announced.

Handed the World Cup by FIFA president Sepp Blatter, Russian deputy prime minister Igor Shuvalov celebrated, saying: "You have entrusted us with the FIFA World Cup for 2018 and I can promise, we all can promise, you will never regret it.

"Let us make history together."

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, who controversially decided not to attend the ceremony, boarded a private plane for Zurich as soon as it became clear that the Russian bid was successful.

To read about the World Cup voting process, click here.