Russia World Cup has "very big" chance predicts Putin

By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

October 14 – Russia has a “very big” chance of beating England to win its bid to host the 2018 World Cup, the country’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin predicted today.

Putin is rapidly becoming the face of Russia’s bid and has already confirmed that he will spearhead the team heading to Zurich to lobby the FIFA Executive Committee for vote on December 2.

“I think that chances for Russia to receive the right to host the [2018] World Football Championship are very big,” said Putin.

He made his comments during a visit to Sochi, the city he is widely credited with having helped win the right to host the 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics after he travelled to Guatemala City to speak to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) members.

Then, Putin gave an unprecedented and impressive speech in English.

Earlier this year Putin pledged Russia would scrap visas if it hosted the World Cup in 2018, giving his impassioned backing to its bid to host the showpiece for the first time.

The Russian Prime Minister also promised that fans will have the right to travel free on public transport during the event in an effort to give their bid an edge over England and the joint bids of Holland and Belgium and Spain and Portugal.

Earlier today Putin had signed an five-year deal with Bernie Ecclestone, the chief executive of Formula One, to hold an annual race in Sochi, which is already been hailed as another example of his ability to persuade the world’s top sports brokers to take their events to Russia.

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