Fifa warns Russia over its bid to host a World Cup
Vitaly Mutko, president of the Russian Football Union, launched his country's bid
Fifa has warned World Cup bidder Russia they must begin building their stadiums and infrastructure immediately if they are to host the finals in 2018 or 2022.
Inspectors from football's world governing body have completed a four-day visit to Russia.
"Work needs to start now to guarantee everything will be in place in time," said Fifa's Harold Mayne-Nicholls.
Up to 10 new stadiums could be built with Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium the proposed venue for the final.
Mayne-Nicholls, who heads Fifa's inspection committee, added that the visit to the four potential host cities of St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kazan and Sochi had been "excellent".
Fifa's executive committee will decide who will host the World Cup in 2018 and 2022 at a meeting in Zurich on 2 December.
Russia's rivals to host the tournaments are England, the United States, and joint bids from Belgium and the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal.
FIFA INSPECTION SCHEDULE
July 19-22 Japan, 22-25 South Korea, 26-29 Australia
Australia, Japan, South Korea and Qatar are applying for the 2022 finals only.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told Fifa on Tuesday that his country will waive visa requirements for participants if it wins hosting rights, an idea the delegation warmly received.
Visitors from nearly all countries require a visa to travel to Russia, which must be applied for in advance.
Putin also said the construction of 'world-class' football stadiums will go ahead regardless of whether Russia is granted hosting rights, which will be co-funded out of state money and private investment.
Fifa's inspection team has already visited Japan, South Korea, Australia and Belgium and the Netherlands.
Their next visit is to England, starting on Monday, where they will spend time with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.
"I've no doubt fans from around the country will unite and show the Fifa inspection team the passion and festival of football we could create if we staged the world's greatest sporting event," Beckham said.
WORLD CUP HOST BIDDERS
2018 and 2022: England, Netherlands/Belgium, Russia, Spain/Portugal, United States.
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