FIFA has given Russia the right to host the 2018 World Cup finals after the nation's bid got the most votes from 22 executive associates of FIFA at a secret ballot held in Zurich.

Spain-Portugal, Holland-Belgium and England were the three additional bids in the fray. The selection process involved multiple rounds of voting, together with the country receiving the fewest votes removed in each round.

As many as 15 bids were obtained from countries aspiring to host the 2018 event, and Russia won an outright majority of 13 votes, in the next round of voting, after devoting nine in the first. The Spain-Portugal joint bidding received seven votes.

The championship in Russia will span 13 cities, all from the country's European region, in a bid to facilitate easier access. In its bidding Russia promised to scrap visas during the 2018 championship and this is seen as a significant element in the vote at the country's favour.

The ballot in Zurich also picked the host of this 2022 tournament, which was awarded to Qatar. The oil-rich Middle-Eastern nation won against rival bids in the United States, Japan and South Korea, in the final round of voting. Australia that had bid for the 2022 World Cup was ousted in the first round of voting.

FIFA World cup 2018 Schedule which had earlier bid to sponsor the 2022 tournament withdrew its bidding citing financial reasons.

Neither Russia nor Qatar has hosted the event before. The awarding of the championships to these two nations has brought an end to a contentious voting procedure with allegations of corruption that led to the suspension of two executive committee members.