Russia, Qatar to Host 2018 and 2022 World Cups

By Sharmaine Jones

The suspense is finally over: The FIFA Executive Committee chose Russia and Qatar as the venues for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup tournaments.

Despite allegations of corruption and bribery in the voting process, FIFA continued the bidding war, clearly unaffected by England's powerhouse push to host the world's largest fútbol tournament — England's bid committee spent $23 million in the last two years, and Prime Minister David Cameron, Prince William and David Beckham lobbied FIFA for the last three days.

FIFA threw everyone for a loop when it selected Russia as host of the 2018 World Cup with an absolute majority in the second round (over joint bids from Belgium-Netherlands and Portugal-Spain). “It is a great victory,” said Russian bid CEO Alexy Sorokin, whose presentation promised to build 13 stadiums and renovate three others.

Despite an all-star effort from the United States — which sent former President Bill Clinton, hunky soccer star Landon Donovan and Academy Award-winner Morgan Freeman to lobby for the bid — the U.S. delegation couldn't sway the committee in their favor. Neither could Australia, Japan or South Korea. Instead, FIFA shocked the world by opting to hold the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the first to be held in the Middle East.

Yes, that Qatar, where temperatures average a sizzling 118 degrees in the summer. Fútbol fans shouldn't sweat it, though. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Thani, chairman of Qatar's 2022 bid committee, promised to install state-of-the-art solar-powered cooling systems in the stadiums.

“Heat is not and will not be an issue,” he told FIFA.com. “FIFA made the right decision in awarding the World Cup to our country, where it can inspire positive change. We are so privileged to have a tournament like this coming to our region for the first time. We will not let FIFA down.”

We just hope fans feel safe enough to show up.

Are you planning to go to the 2018 or 2022 World Cup? Tell us about it below.

Tags 2018, 2022, David Beckham, FIFA, futbol, Landon Donovan, Morgan Freeman, President Bill Clinton, Prime Minister David Cameron, Prince William, Qatar, Russia, Soccer, World Cup