THE SELECTION OF RUSSIA TO HOST THE 2018 FIFA WORLD CUP – A CASE STUDY

A case study in the sociology of sport on how after taking power in Russia in 1999 and consolidating it in the first half of the 2000s, Vladimir Putin wanted to achieve the organization of FIFA World Cup 2018 as a manifestation of his authority and power on the national and international stage. For this, Putin turned to his old colleague from the St. Petersburg mayor's office, from the 1990s, Vitaly Mutko, a skilled politician, involved in football in Russia, as well as to the oligarch Roman Abramovich. Russia submitted its candidacy for the organization of FIFA World Cup 2018 in 2009, simultaneously with the election of Mutko as a member of the FIFA Executive Committee, whose 24 members were to vote in 2010 to choose the organizing country. The good relations established by Putin, Mutko and Abramovich with FIFA President Sepp Blatter and the other members of the FIFA Executive Committee secured Russia the desired nomination on December 2, 2010. Putin flies to Zurich the same day to personally thank Sepp Blatter for the result of the vote. In the years following the vote, Sepp Blatter will be banned from football for irregularities, and in total more than half of the FIFA Executive Committee members who voted on December 2, 2010 to choose Russia as the host for FIFA World Cup 2018 will be accused of corruption.