Simon Hopper tips West Ham to nick a point when they travel to Sunderland on Sunday.
Russia and Qatar have won the FIFA votes to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals.
Russia beat off competition from England, and joint bids from Netherlands/Belgium and Spain/Portugal.
Qatar have been awarded the 2022 World Cup after seeing off challenges from Australia, Japan, South Korea and the USA.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter announced the result of the 22-member panel in Zurich, Switzerland. It will be the first time either Russia or Qatar has hosted the tournament.
“We go to new lands,” said Blatter. “Never has the World Cup been in Russia and Eastern Europe, and the Middle East and Arabic world have been waiting for a long time so I’m a happy president when we talk about the development of football.”
Russia deputy prime minister Igor Shuvalov celebrated by saying: “You have entrusted us with the FIFA World Cup for 2018 and I can promise, we all can promise, you will never regret it. Let us make history together.”
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who did not attend Thursday’s vote, said he was leaving for Zurich to thank FIFA for awarding Russia the right to host the 2018 finals.
“This decision shows that Russia is trusted,” Putin told reporters before leaving for the airport to fly to Zurich.
Qatar had asked FIFA to take a “bold gamble” and insisted the desert nation’s extreme heat would not be an issue.
It stressed the small nation had the money, resources and high-technology to overcome any logistical objections.
The tournament would be held when temperatures in Qatar typically exceed 48 degrees C (118 degrees F). FIFA highlighted the potential risk posed by the heat.
“Thank you for believing in change,” said Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. “Thank you for backing us and expanding the game. You will be proud of us and you will be proud of the Middle East.”
Simon Hopper tips West Ham to nick a point when they travel to Sunderland on Sunday.
