Brazil hands over Cup to Russia
Tuesday, 15 July 2014
RIO DE JANEIRO, July 14 (AFP): Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Sunday symbolically handed over the World Cup to Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, whose country will host the 2018 tournament.
The two leaders were joined by FIFA president Sepp Blatter for the ceremony inside the legendary Maracana Stadium before the Germany-Argentina final in Rio de Janeiro.
"I want to congratulate President Rousseff on how the World Cup was organized," Putin said in a FIFA statement. "We will do all we can to organize the event on the highest level."