"I think it is quite natural that Russia would bid for the right to host the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup™. Russia is a friendly and hospitable country where the Russian people would make any visitor feel welcome. Football is extremely popular in our country as well and winning this bid would bring new impetus to football's development in Russia. I hope that we will be victorious and if we won the right to host, I know that we would organise this World Cup to highest international standards."

Georgy V. Boos, Governor of Kaliningrad region