MOSCOW, July 15 (Sputnik) – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday took part in the ceremony to hand over the mantle of World Cup hosts to Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.
The ceremony was held in the Kremlin. Apart from the Russian leader and Qatari emir, FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended the event.
Putin welcomed the Qatari emir and gave him as a symbolic gesture a football ball, which would be used by the French and Croatian national teams in the 2018 World Cup final game later in the day.
Putin and Al Thani will then hold short talks to discuss Moscow-Doha bilateral relations.
International news source
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