Moscow - The president of the international federation of football associations (FIFA) Joseph Blatter, is pleased with progress in Russia's preparations for hosting the 2018 World Football Cup finals.

At a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi on today Blatter said Russia´s organizing committee and the country´s leader in person deserved five star appraisal for the work done so far to prepare for the global event.

Vladimir Putin in his turn told Blatter that Russia will not disappoint FIFA and football fans round the globe and will organize the 2018 World Cup at a decent level.

The meeting took place during the SportAccord Convention is a 6-day annual gathering of leading representatives from international sport.

Russia is currently gearing up for the Preliminary Draw, which is the first major kick-off event ahead of the global tournament itself. The draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Preliminary Competition will be held on July 25 in Russia´s second largest city of St. Petersburg with a total of 208 nations having signed up for the participation in the event.

Russia as the hosting nation automatically qualified for the championship and therefore is not taking part in the preliminary competition.

Russia won the bid to host the 2018 World Cup over four years ago. The matches of the 2018 World Cup will be held between June 14 and July 15 at 12 stadiums located in 11 cities across Russia.