A declaration on Russia’s
official status as the organizer of the 2018 FIFA World Cup was signed in
St.Petersburg on Sunday.

According to the website of Russian
Football Union, the signing ceremony was attended by FIFA President Joseph
Blatter, Russian Football Union President Sergei Fursenko, Russian Sport
Minister Vitaly Mutko and Russian bid leader Alexei Sorokin.

The list of cities, where the World
Cup matches will be played, has been defined and will not be changed, Mutko told
Interfax news agency.

Russia won the right to host the
sport event on Dec. 2, 2010. The country vowed to spend about 10 billion U.S.
dollars on the preparation for the World Cup.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir
Putin discussed preparations for the 2018 World Cup earlier with Blatter on
Saturday, calling for closer cooperation for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

He said that the game would help
popularize a healthy way of living and develop the social and transportation
infrastructure in Russia.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet