Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin has formally passed the torch to Qatar for the World Cup in 2022.
Ahead of the final in Moscow between France and Croatia, Putin met at the Kremlin with Qatar’s emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Putin said Russia’s World Cup has been a success and “I am sure that our friend from Qatar will succeed at holding the FIFA 2022 World Cup at the same highest level.”
Putin ceremonially handed a football to the emir to mark the transfer to Qatar, which will be the first Arab country to host the tournament.
The emir said through a translator that the World Cup “will be a huge and great festival for all our country.”
The Russian Presaident offered to give 2022 FIFA World Cup host Qatar the opportunity to share Russia’s organising lessons learned through hosting the 2018 World Cup.
“We are ready to share the experience we have gained hosting the tournament this year with our friends from Qatar,” Putin said.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said that he fell in love with Russia during the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
“Today I am a happy man… As far as I am concerned, we all fell in love with Russia. And I am sure in four years we will fall in love with Qatar,” Infantino said.
He added that the World Cup had a profound effect on Russia and will influence Qatar as well. (Agencies)
