FIFA has announced that Russia has been selected to host the football World Cup in 2018 following a vote of its executive committee.

The Russian bid to stage the tournament was chosen ahead of England, along with joint submissions from Spain/Portugal and Netherlands/Belgium.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter confirmed the decision in front of delegates at Zurich Exhibition Centre in Switzerland. Qatar will host the 2022 event.

Blatter said: "I have to say thanks to to the executive committee of FIFA because for 2018 and 2022 we go to new lands, because the FIFA World Cup has never been in eastern Europe or the Middle East."

Russian deputy prime minister Igor Shuvalov said: "You have entrusted us with the FIFA World Cup for 2018 and I can promise that you will never regret it. Let us make history together."

Alex Horne, general secretary of the Football Association, said: "Today was a disappointment in Zurich but in less than 48 hours the weekend will be upon us.

"And like every other weekend in England, seven million children and adults will play football while hundreds of thousands will go through the turnstiles."

London mayor Boris Johnson said: "We remain 100 per cent focused on developing London as the most exciting sporting destination in the world, and we have a lot to offer other countries from putting together our bid and from planning the Olympic and Paralympic Games."

VisitEngland chief executive James Berresford said: "We are all obviously disappointed that England has been unsuccessful in its bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

"Despite this set back, the next ten years is full of sporting promise for England."

Image: Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow – one of the prospective 2018 venues