How Russia won the Bid to Host the 2018 World Cup

Understanding Russia’s motives

First, hosting this event is an excellent opportunity to promote the country’s tourism industry. Soccer tourists are a special breed of visitors who travel in groups and stay for relatively long periods. They’re also highly likely to visit other locales in the host country as well, so this could have a substantial impact on tourism revenue. Second, it’s an excellent chance to display the country’s infrastructure. Russia has made much of the fact that they have plenty of experience hosting large-scale sporting events. The stadiums required for the World Cup are quite similar to those used in the winter Olympics, which Russia has hosted twice. This suggests that the country has the necessary infrastructure to host a large-scale event like the World Cup.

FIFA’s Tender Requirements

One thing to understand about the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup is that it’s not a typical governmental election. Instead, it’s a tender process that FIFA uses to select the best location for the tournament. This means that Russia’s government had to convince FIFA that they were the best choice, not the Russian people. The requirements for the World Cup bidding process are detailed and rigorous, meaning that all bidders had to demonstrate their ability to meet a set of strict criteria. The most important of these criteria is that the country hosting the tournament must have the capacity to build the required stadiums. In this case, FIFA demanded that each host country have at least one stadium with a capacity of at least 40,000 people. Russia’s bid included 13 stadiums that met this criterion. This is important because it presents the government with a clear expectation from FIFA and gives them the freedom to choose the desired location.

Russia’s Strength in Stadia Construction

An important factor in Russia’s effort to win the bid was the fact that the country has plenty of experience building stadiums. This is largely because the Russian government has been forced to build new stadiums since the fall of the Soviet Union. Stadium construction is the result of an effort to create a new post-Soviet identity, particularly since much of the old stadiums were associated with Communism. New stadiums have been built to host plenty of different sports, including soccer, hockey, and other popular games. In particular, soccer stadiums have been built in major cities across the country, making it easier for the population to attend games. Therefore, it was clear that the country had the necessary experience to build the stadiums required for the World Cup.

Russian Influence on the World Cup Timing

Another factor that swayed FIFA to select Russia as the host nation is the timing of the event. Most countries that host the World Cup choose to do so in the summer when temperatures are pleasant and there is little risk of precipitation. This makes it easier for the tourists who attend the tournament to travel and see the sights. However, Russia’s hosting bid was for the winter of 2022, which is typically an extremely cold period. This drew plenty of opposition from other countries, especially those who were chosen to host the event in 2018.

Russia’s Plan to Rebuild its Image

Finally, there is the question of how hosting the World Cup may help rehabilitate Russia’s image in the eyes of the world. This is an important consideration since Russia’s government has been under immense pressure and scrutiny over the past decade. This was largely due to the tension between the European Union and the Russian Federation over the Ukrainian crisis, sanctions, and related matters. Many thought that Russia would be disqualified from the bid process entirely, due to the controversy surrounding the country. However, once again, Russia’s government was able to convince the voting committee that their country could host the tournament and do so successfully. Russia’s promise to use the event to promote tourism and spur economic growth also played a role in their success.

Bottom line

Ultimately, Russia won the bid to host the World Cup thanks to the promise of substantial economic growth, a proven track record in hosting sporting events, and the ability to accommodate the expected number of visitors who would attend the tournament. The country has a lot to gain from hosting this event, and the country’s leaders are optimistic that it will help promote the nation’s tourism, sports industries, and economy.