Russian chief executive Alexey Sorokin has stated his confidence in his country’s ability to win the rights to the 2018 World Cup.

With the final decision being made in December 2010, Sorokin is trying to pull out all the stops to ensure that the majority of the 24 voters back the Russian bid.

The country recently unveiled a £12 million public budget with a similar amount arriving through private funds to assist the bid. Alongside this, they have proposed 13 cities between the Polish and Kazakhstan border which is known to be one of the more remote areas of Russia. Nevertheless, Sorokin is adament that this will give the nation a better representation and that 100% commitment will go into all areas of the campaign.

He said: “We’ll try to prove that a World Cup in Russia will make a difference. Russia is very interestingly situated between Europe and Asia. Technically we are a European bid but we are hoping to bring football development to two continents. Russia influences football in a vast region of our planet, maybe 20-plus countries. It’s our time. The IOC (International Olympic Committee) have entrusted us with the 2014 Winter Olympics. Why not FIFA too?”

The one downside to the Russian bid is the possible damage to the public relations area if a terrorist attack occurs. It was only recently that an attack on a St Peterburg – Moscow train killed 25 people and left plenty more injured.

However, Sorokin states: “”I do not think this incident will have any impact on our bid. Every country has suffered at one time or another from the point of view of terrorist attacks and there are very few exceptions among our World Cup competitors here.”