Russia and Qatar to host 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, respectively

The FIFA Executive Committee has chosen Russia to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup™, while the 2022 FIFA World Cup™ was awarded to Qatar.

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter announced the result of the FIFA Executive Committee's vote on Thursday 2 December 2010 in Zurich’s Messe.

The contenders for the 2018 FIFA World Cup™, other than Russia, were England, a joint bid from Belgium and the Netherlands, and a joint bid from Spain and Portugal.

Meanwhile, for the 2022 FIFA World Cup™, Australia, Japan, Korea Republic and the USA were competing with Qatar.

Here are the full results of the voting rounds:

22 members of the FIFA Executive Committee were entitled to vote. 12 votes were needed for an absolute majority and therefore to obtain the right to host the FIFA World Cup.

2018 FIFA World Cup™

Round 1: England 2 votes, Netherlands/Belgium 4 votes, Spain/Portugal 7 votes and Russia 9 votes (as no absolute majority was reached, the candidate with least amount of votes, England, was eliminated)

Round 2: Netherlands/Belgium 2 votes, Spain/Portugal 7 votes and Russia 13 votes (Russia obtained an absolute majority)


2022 FIFA World Cup™

Round 1: Australia 1 vote, Japan 3 votes, Korea Republic 4 votes, Qatar 11 votes, USA 3 votes (Australia eliminated)

Round 2: Japan 2 votes, Korea Republic 5 votes, Qatar 10 votes and USA 5 votes (Japan eliminated)

Round 3: Korea Republic 5 votes, Qatar 11 votes, USA 6 votes (Korea Republic eliminated)

Round 4: Qatar 14 votes and USA 8 votes (Qatar obtained an absolute majority)