Russia wrecks England’s dream

England’s dream of hosting the 2018 World Cup ended in disappointment yesterday.

Russia won the right to stage the tournament after a ballot by the FIFA executive committee in Zurich.

President Sepp Blatter made the announcement in the Swiss city.

Handed the World Cup by Blatter, Russian deputy prime minister Igor Shuvalov celebrated, saying: “You have entrusted us with the Fifa World Cup for 2018 and I can promise, we all can promise, you will never regret it.

“Let us make history together.”

The England 2018 bid team had hoped the lobbying of Fifa members by Prince William, David Cameron and David Beckham in recent days had given them an advantage.

But the campaign was ultimately unsuccessful. Joint bids by Spain and Portugal and Holland and Belgium also lost out.

Despite a bid described as “excellent and remarkable” by Blatter, judges rejected sending the tournament back to England for the first time since 1966. Though the nation is blessed with a series of excellent stadia, good transport links and policing, it is thought a number of behind-the-scenes factors possibly went against England.

BBC’s recent Panorama investigation accused three FIFA executive committee members of accepting “corrupt” payments and alleged that vice-president Jack Warner attempted to supply ticket touts.

Qatar were chosen as hosts of the 2022 World Cup.