Russian President Vladimir Putin has wished Qatar success in hosting the World Cup, saying the hosts of the 2018 tournament share their experience in organizing.
Russia reached the World Cup quarterfinals in 2018 but is excluded from the tournament from November 20 to December 18 due to its invasion of Ukraine earlier this year.
Putin met with Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani on the sidelines of a summit in Kazakhstan on Thursday.
“We are doing everything possible to share our experience in preparing for the World Cup,” Putin said. “I would like to wish them success in the celebration of this World Cup, of this event. I am sure that it will be so.”
Qatar is the first country in the Middle East to host the World Cup.
“The success that Russia had during the 2018 World Cup is a great help in preparing for the World Cup that we are going to organize,” said Sheikh Tamim. “We thank them for their cooperation in preparing for the tournament.”
