World Cup

Sepp Blatter: 'Russia 2018 pre-agreed'

By Liam Apicella, Features Editor | 28 October 2015

Sepp Blatter says that Russia were picked to host the 2018 World Cup before the vote had taken place, while the USA were due to hold the 2022 event.

Suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter has claimed that there was an agreement in place for Russia to host the 2018 World Cup, even before the voting process had taken place.

The 79-year-old made the revelation to Russian news agency Tass, saying that football's biggest competition was always going to go to the Eastern European nation.

He further suggested that the 2022 tournament was due to be hosted by the USA until UEFA leader Michel Platini, who like Blatter is under investigation, intervened in favour of Qatar.

"In 2010 we had a discussion of the World Cup and then we went to a double decision. For the World Cups, it was agreed that we go to Russia because it's never been in Russia, eastern Europe, and for 2022 we go back to America. Then we will have the World Cup in the two biggest political powers," he said.

"Everything was good until the moment when [French president Nicolas] Sarkozy came in a meeting with the crown prince of Qatar, who is now the ruler of Qatar. At a lunch afterwards with Mr Platini he said it would be good to go to Qatar. This has changed all pattern."

Blatter is facing criminal charges over a £1.35m payment made to Platini in 2011, although both men have denied any wrongdoing.