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World Cup 2018: how the Fifa vote unfolded in Zurich

World Cup 2018 is handed to Russia with Qatar chosen to host the tournament in 2022. This is how Thursday's vote went.

World Cup 2018: how the Fifa vote unfolded in Zurich Fifa president Sepp Blatter announces Qatar as the winning bidder to host the 2022 World Cup
And the winner is... Fifa president Sepp Blatter announces Qatar as the winning bid to host the 2022 World Cup Credit: Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Twenty-two members of the Fifa executive committee were entitled to vote in the race for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups with 12 votes needed for an absolute majority and therefore to obtain the right to host the World Cup.

2018 World Cup

Round 1: England 2 votes, Netherlands/Belgium 4 votes, Spain/Portugal 7 votes and Russia 9 votes (as no absolute majority was reached, the candidate with least amount of votes, England, was eliminated)

Round 2: Netherlands/Belgium 2 votes, Spain/Portugal 7 votes and Russia 13 votes (Russia obtained an absolute majority)

2022 FIFA World Cup

Round 1: Australia 1 vote, Japan 3 votes, Korea Republic 4 votes, Qatar 11 votes, USA 3 votes (Australia eliminated)

Round 2: Japan 2 votes, Korea Republic 5 votes, Qatar 10 votes and USA 5 votes (Japan eliminated)

Round 3: Korea Republic 5 votes, Qatar 11 votes, USA 6 votes (Korea Republic eliminated)

Round 4: Qatar 14 votes and USA 8 votes (Qatar obtained an absolute majority)