体坛英语新闻：Russia becomes official host of 2018 FIFA World Cup

MOSCOW, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- A declaration on Russia's official status as the organizer of the 2018 FIFA World Cup was signed in St.Petersburg on Sunday.

According to the website of Russian Football Union, the signing ceremony was attended by FIFA President Joseph Blatter, Russian Football Union President Sergei Fursenko, Russian Sport Minister Vitaly Mutko and Russian bid leader Alexei Sorokin.

The list of cities, where the World Cup matches will be played, has been defined and will not be changed, Mutko told Interfax news agency.

Russia won the right to host the sport event on Dec. 2, 2010. The country vowed to spend about 10 billion U.S. dollars on the preparation for the World Cup.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin discussed preparations for the 2018 World Cup earlier with Blatter on Saturday, calling for closer cooperation for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

He said that the game would help popularize a healthy way of living and develop the social and transportation infrastructure in Russia.