Betting Suggests FIFA Will Bung Russia Enough Votes To Host 2018 World Cup

England out to 3-1 following latest bid scandal

FOLLOWING weeks of controversy Russia has emerged as the odds-on favourites at 4-5 on Betfair to receive enough votes from the Fifa Executive Committee to host the football World Cup for the first time in 2018. The Russian bid, despite question marks surrounding the vast country’s transport infrastructure, is now in pole position to win the vote in Zurich on Thursday 2 December.

England’s attempt to hold the World Cup for the first time since 1966 has been blighted by scandal and claims of corruption at Fifa, the most recent being the much-discussed Panorama programme aired on BBC1 on Monday night.

Having been the long-term market favourites and traded as short as 8-11 on the exchange, the England bid is now out at 3-1 to land world football’s showpiece event. The joint bid from Portugal and Spain is a 9-2 chance, with the other potential co-hosts Belgium and The Netherlands 35-1 outsiders.

Betfair’s Andy Lulham said: “Six months ago England looked almost nailed-on to host the 2018 World Cup but, as the bid has lurched from one scandal to another, those odds have drifted.

“Unfortunately it now looks like the Russian bid is the one to beat.”

To host the 2018 World Cup

Betfair bet:

• 4-5 Russia
• 3-1 England
• 9-2 Portugal & Spain
• 35-1 Belgium & Netherlands