Kazan has been announced among Russian cities to host 2018 FIFA World Cup on Channel One Russia. The Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov participated in the announcement ceremony. FIFA President Joseph Blatter opened the ceremony in Moscow studio.

Guests present at the event were Vitaly Mutko, Chairman of the Russia 2018 Local Organising Committee; Aleksei Sorokin, Director General of the Russia 2018 Local Organising Committee; sport and show business starts.

Blatter and Mutko together started to announce cities that will host 2018 FIFA World Cup. St.Petersburg was the first city announced. Live broadcast between Moscow and cities to host matches of the Football Cup was organised.

The second host city announced was Ekaterinburg.

The interview with the Russian President Vladimir Putin was shown at the announcement ceremony.

“The World Cup is, first of all, a great opportunity to involve a great number of young people in sport, and a big construction project. Moreover, it will give impetus to economy, development of infrastructure. I was sure that if we want to win, we must take the risk and have no doubts about it. We made this happen and I am happy then,” the President said.

Sochi that will host the Olympic Games 2014 was the third city announced.

Kazan, the capital of Universiade 2013, was number four. Live broadcast from the Central football stadium against the background of the Kazan Kremlin. Match of the Tatarstan Student football league was dedicated to the event.

The Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov; three-time Olympic Synchronised Swimming Champion and Ambassador of Universiade 2013 in Kazan Maria Kiseleva; London Olympic Champion, volleyball player Aleksandr Volkov participated in live broadcast.