Friday, December 3, 2010

World Cups 2018 and 2022

World Cups 2018 and 2022: Russian and Qatari reaction

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Celebrations in Qatar after the country won the bid to host the 2022 World Cup

Russia and Qatar have been chosen to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals after a secret ballot of Fifa's 22 executive members in Zurich.

Russia was selected ahead of co-bidders Spain-Portugal and Holland-Belgium, as well as England, who won only two votes, while Qatar edged out rivals Australia, the US, South Korea and Japan.

Readers in both countries have been reacting to the decisions and discussing the challenges ahead.

RUSSIA

Football is the world's most popular game. Russia is the world's largest country. This will be the first World Cup in Eurasia! It is only fair. Our fans are just as sincere as the Brazilian ones or the English ones. As for stadiums and chic hotels, we will build them. Nikolai, Pushkino

QATAR

The Qatari bid was fascinating to everybody in spite of a few reservations made earlier by some Fifa members. It is definitely the time for an Arab state to host the World Cup, ending the domination of Europe and the Americas over world footballing events. Ahmad Al Ansari, Doha

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