FIFA's President Sepp Blatter said Russia is well on track to host the soccer World Cup in 2018 when visiting the Russian town of St. Petersburg on Friday (January 20) to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Russian Soccer Union.
The head of the world's soccer governing body even said that Russia is already better prepared to host the biggest sports event on the planet than Brazil which is set to host the World Cup in 2014.
"I tell you that we far, far advanced (in Russia). We are even, I would say... We have more problems actually in Brazil than we are looking forward to (have at) the World Cup 2018 here," Blatter said.
Russia was a surprise choice to host the 2018 tournament when it won the FIFA vote last year.
FIFA has been very vocal lately in voicing concerns about Brazil's lagging preparations for the 2014 World Cup. In December Sepp Blatter announced he would make the matter his "personal dossier".
Soccer's governing body has been unhappy about the progress in building infrastructure and about the legal situation over the organisation of the event.
Brazil's Congress has yet to pass a so-called World Cup bill, which would give FIFA control of ticketing prices and distribution and implement FIFA rules on matters such as pirate goods, merchandising and unlicensed street vendors.
One of the sticking points of the bill is that FIFA wants Brazil to lift a ban on the sale of alcohol in stadiums.
The Brazilian government also wants to make cheap tickets available for students, pensioners and native Indians.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met Sepp Blatter on Thursday (January 19) and said that beer would be on sale during the World Cup in Russia. Putin met soccer fans later in the evening and even raised a pint of beer with them.
Russia needs to build stadiums, roads and other infrastructure in time for the 2018 tournament. FIFA's chief is confident there will be no lack of money, even if the global economy enters a new financial crisis.
"When you speak about a (financial) crisis, we had a crisis in 2008, we will have a crisis perhaps tomorrow or whatever. But at the same time I have to say - and I'm happy to say it, and I cross the fingers and I pray - football has not been affected by the crisis. And why is football not affected by the crisis? Because football gives this emotion to the people when there are crises," Blatter said.
On Thursday, Vladimir Putin promised visa-free travel for the 2018 World Cup to international soccer fans who will be admitted to Russia by showing their World Cup match tickets.
Reuters