JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Roman Abramovich is meeting international football officials to push Russia's bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
The billionaire owner of Premier League champion Chelsea was making his first formal appearance in Russia’s campaign Thursday on the sidelines of the FIFA Congress in Johannesburg.
The nine candidates to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022 explained their bids to delegates from FIFA’s 208 national members. The exhibition was closed to the public and media.
Abramovich was joined by Russia’s team captain Andrey Arshavin.
David Beckham was there with England’s bid team which is expected to be Russia’s main rival for 2018 hosting rights.
FIFA’s 24-member executive committee chooses the two hosts in December.
