FIFA's President Sepp Blatter shakes hands with Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) during the preliminary draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup at Konstantin Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia July 25, 2015. REUTERS/Stringer
ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - The preliminary round draw for the 2018 World Cup in Russia marked both a first and last step on the road to the finals.
While Saturday's draw was the start of the countdown to the event, the announcement on the same day that FIFA's Executive Committee had endorsed Russia as the host nation was designed to end talk of it being stripped of the finals.
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