Russian presenter Natalia Vodianova joins the preliminary draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup at Konstantin Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia July 25, 2015. (Xinhua File Photo)
ST. PETERSBURG, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and FIFA President Sepp Blatter showed support for each other at the 2018 World Cup Preliminary Draw here on Saturday, while the Netherlands and France, Spain and Italy were drawn together respectively in their European zone qualifiers.
Putin met Blatter in the historical Konstantin Palace shortly before the Draw, as Blatter travelled abroad for the first time to attend a ceremony after an "anti-corruption" action launched by US and Switzerland on FIFA concerning the award of 2018 World Cup to Russia.
The Russian President promised that the nation will do all they can to make the 2018 FIFA World Cup "a grandiose sports event". Putin also praised Blatter for his efforts in this difficult time, "We see what's happening around football, but I know how you feel about it. We thank you for concentrating your time and attention on football above all despite this."
One day before the ceremony, Russian Local Orgaznising Committee CEO of the 2018 World Cup Alexei Sorokin said Blatter is a victim and a very brave person. The LOC chief said Blatter has taken more responsibility that is beyond his control to do the good for football.
Blatter told Putin that "I would like to inform you that the executive committee has recently adopted a new resolution in which FIFA assures the Russian Federation of its full support in carrying out the World Cup in Russia in 2018."
In the beginning of the draw ceremony, in which both the Russian cultural tradition and the modern art is performed by some high-standard show, Putin and Blatter came to the center of the stage together and made short speeches.
"Football is one of the most popular sports in Russia and all over the world," Putin said. "Our country has long and strong traditions of football. I am sure that we will be growing new talents. Russia's organization of the 2018 FIFA World Cup will help to further popularize the sport of football in Russia."
"We will do everything to provide security at the championship," the Russian president said. "I would like to reiterate that all obligations undertaken by Russia will be implemented."
"It is a good chance to visit a multi-faceted and open Russia that can surprise and inspire," Putin said. Putin also said Russia will do everything to make sure that the sportsmen and supporters who come will feel at home and that those who watch the television will feel that they are participating in a grandiose international sporting festival.
Blatter said: "This is an important day in the long and winding road to the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The tournament is very much on track and Russia will be fantastic hosts. But first a much longer competition must take place, lasting no less than 33 months, with over 850 matches taking place. And when all's said and done, we will know the teams that will compete in Russia."
The following draw saw big guns from Europe pitted together, as the Netherlands and France will clash in Group A, which also features Sweden, Bulgaria, Belarus and Luxembourg; while Spain and Italy will fight for a direct ticket in Group G, where Albania, Israel, Macedonia and Liechtenstein are the other sides.
World champions Germany and Portugal seemed to have some good luck to be drawn into two relatively easy groups. Germany are with the Czech Republic, Northern Ireland, Norway, Azerbaijan and San Marino; while Portugal has Switzerland, Hungary, Faroe Islands, Latvia and Andorra as contenders. Top team from each of the 9 groups will qualify directly and eight best runners-up advance into playoffs.
Asia succesfully avoids South America in the intercontinental playoffs, the 5th-ranked Asian side will meet the 4th-placed team of the North, Central American and the Carribean zone; while the winner of the Oceanian zone has to challenge the 5th-placed side of the South American zone.
A total of 141 of FIFA's 209 member federations were involved in the draw, including top-ranked Argentina, joint No. 207-ranked Djibouti and Cook Islands. A total of 31 teams will survive the qualifiers to join the finals in 2018 with hosts Russia given an automatic qualification.
Russia selected 11 host cities to hold the 2018 World Cup matches and they are Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi, Kazan, Saransk, Kaliningrad, Volgograd, Rostov-on-Don, Nizhny Novgorod, Yekaterinburg and Samara.
The matches of the 2018 World Cup will be held between June 14 and July 15 at 12 stadiums. The curtain raiser and the final game will both be played in the Luzhniki Stadium in the capital city Moscow.
