It's official: Russia bids to host 2018 or 2022 World Cup Russia is joining the race to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022, a senior official in the Russian Football Association (RFU) said on Friday. "Yesterday we sent an official letter to FIFA informing them of our intentions to bid for the World Cup in 2018 or 2022," RFU general director Alexei Sorokin told Reuters. Last week, FIFA president Sepp Blatter urged the Russians to enter the fray. "I definitely expect Russia to be a candidate,