Soccer: Fifa praises Russia's bid

Fifa president Sepp Blatter told Vladimir Putin that Russia has a "good chance" of winning the hosting rights to the 2018 or 2022 World Cup. Blatter praised Russia's bid in a meeting with the Prime Minister in Moscow yesterday. Other bidders for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups include England, the United States and Japan, with joint bids from Spain and Portugal and Netherlands and Belgium. South Korea and Qatar are bidding for 2022 only. The hosts will be announced by Fifa in December 2010.