Russia World Cup bid attracts another partner

The financial services company IFD Kapital Group has become an official partner of Russia’s 2018 World Cup bid.

The company chairman, Leonid Fedun, is on of the richest men in the world and joins fellow oligarchs Roman Abramovich and Alisher Usmanov in supporting the Russian bid.

Consulting group BDO, law firm YUST and charity organisation Art and Sport are already partners of the bid.

Bid chief executive, Alexey Sorokin, said: “I am very pleased to welcome IFD Kapital to our expanding group of partners, who are vivid proof of the interest and sympathy Russia’s bid for the FIFA World Cup is enjoying at home.

“IFD Kapital is an investor active in a number of business areas and in particular in companies that are expected to be on the market’s high tomorrow. Their expertise will further help us to make a case for holding the FIFA World Cup in Russia – an opportunity which would allow football to tap into a huge market.”

Mr Fedun added: “Russia’s bid to host the FIFA World Cup is a matter of pride for our country. Football is the most popular sport in Russia. If we win the right to host the World Cup, the largest celebration of world football will take place in Russia, a huge honour for our country.”