Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin led a minute’s silence for Yegor Sviridov, a Moscow Spartak fan killed ina clash with migrants from Russia’s southern Muslim provinces on Dec. 6. “A young man died,” Putin said. “This is a big tragedy.” The incident highlightedtension between those who live in big cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg […]
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Putin: World Cup will improve Russia
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says hosting the 2018 World Cup will improve the quality of life in Russia, which is spending at least $10 billion on upgrades to infrastructurein 13 cities to prepare to host World Cup games. “There will be less crime, less drug-taking,” Putin said. “In the end it’s an integrated, exclusively positive […]
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Chuck Blazer on the U.S. loss
[WORLD CUP 2022] A week after the vote by the FIFA executive committee to give the 2022 World Cup to Qatar over the United States and three other bidders, Chuck Blazer, the lone American on the executive committee that selected the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, finds himself in the Gulf. Blazer […]
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Russia captures European battle
[WORLD CUP 2018] The FIFA executive committee awarded the 2018 World Cup to Russia in the first of two host announcements made on Thursday by FIFA PresidentSepp Blatter at the Messe Zurich in Switzerland. The decision to give the World Cup to Russia marks the first time it will host the tournament. Spain-Portugal, England and […]
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Putin cancels trip, spinmeisters go to work
[ZURICH COUNTDOWN] Less than 48 hours before the FIFA executive committee selects the hosts of the 2018/22 World Cups, RuudGullit is doing his best to whip up the citizens of Zurich into World Cup frenzy. It’s freezing with fresh snow on the ground, but Gullit, head of the Netherlands-Belgium bid for the 2018 WorldCup, was […]
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Cutting it close?
[ZURICH COUNTDOWN] As the countdown to Thursday’s vote by FIFA’s executive committee on the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in Zurich continues, SoccerAmerica spotlights the latest developments … Cutting it close? Former President Bill Clinton will lead theU.S. delegation that will present its case for the 2022 World Cup to the FIFA […]
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Russian bid chief terms England complaint 'strange'
The World Cup 2018/22 bid process is quickly degenerating into a farce as England has filed a complaint against 2018 opponent Russia for remarks by bid leader Alexei Sorokin critical of London’s high crime rate and levels of teenage drinking, as well as the “ethnic hatred” Manchester United incited by burning an American flag at […]
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Putin to head Russian World Cup bid delegation
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has promised to head Russia’s delegation at the FIFA executive committee meetings in Zurich, where the hosts of the2018 and 2022 World Cups will be chosen. Putin’s support of Sochi in flying to Guatemala City where the IOC met to decide the 2014 Winter Olympic Games host is viewed as […]
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Russia to switch to fall-spring season
The Russian soccer federation has decided to switch to a fall-spring season, moving in line with the leagues played across most of Europe. The decision was made, according tofederation head Sergei Fursenko so “synchronizing our competitions with the Europeans brings soccer in Russia to a higher level.” The move, whichwill take place in the fall […]
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Putin throws weight behind World Cup
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin threw his weight behind his country’s powerful bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup when he told visiting FIFAinspectors that Russia would do everything to organize the World Cup at the highest level. “If FIFA grant us the honor to hold the World Cup, we are ready to […]