FIFA president Sepp Blatter to attend Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying draw

The qualifying draw for the 2018 World Cup will take place in July
FIFA president Sepp Blatter will attend the draw in St Petersburg
Swiss authorities are investigating awarding of the World Cup to Russia

Published:
18:04 GMT, 23 June 2015

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Updated:
18:14 GMT, 23 June 2015

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FIFA president Sepp Blatter will attend the 2018 World Cup qualifying draw in St Petersburg on July 25, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said on Tuesday.

‘Of course, he (Blatter) will attend (the draw),’ Mutko told the TASS news agency.

‘The whole of the (FIFA) executive committee will be there, as well as all 209 national federations. Preparations are going as planned,’ the minister added.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter will attend the 2018 World Cup qualifying draw in Russia in July

The Russian Football Union (RFS) also said Blatter would attend the draw.

‘As a person who knows a few things about Blatter, I am in no doubt that he will attend the draw,’ RFS general secretary Anatoly Vorobyov told Reuters in a telephone interview.

‘Blatter has come to Russia 23 years in a row to attend the Commonwealth Cup. However, now there is a very important event in the sporting and social-political calendar. Of course the president of FIFA should attend these events.

‘I am sure that if nothing unexpected happens, Blatter will visit St Petersburg on 25th July,’ Vorobyov added.

The 79-year-old is to step down as president as authorities continue to investigate corruption at FIFA

The Commonwealth Cup began in 1993 as a tournament for the champions of the former Soviet Union republics.

Blatter, 79, said on June 2 he would step down from his post after US and Swiss authorities widened their investigations into bribery and corruption at world soccer’s governing body.

Blatter has not been charged with any wrongdoing.

Swiss authorities are also investigating the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively.