FIFA President Josef Blatter, left, hands the World Cup trophy to Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, right, after the announcement that Russia will host the 2018 World Cup on Dec. 2, 2010.PHILIPPE DESMAZES
They certainly wouldn't be anyone's first choices - except for FIFA's executive committee that is.
With contenders like England, Australia, Spain-Portugal and the United States all in the running - each with a proven track record of successfully playing host to major sporting events - FIFA went out on a limb, not once, but twice. As a result, fans will have to get used to entirely new experiences when the quadrennial jamboree known as the World Cup breaks new ground in 2018 and 2022, rolling into Russia and Qatar, respectively.
From the innovative, technologically advanced stadiums proposed in the Middle East - which include air conditioning for fans in every seat and projection screens around their exteriors - to the Old-World charm of the planet's largest country, supporters will be immersed in two very different cultures, each offering a chance for a fresh interpretation of the global game.
But fans may feel anything but fresh for much of the 2022 edition, the first to be held in the Middle East. Qatar regularly experiences temperatures soaring into the high 40s during the months of June and July, when the competition is held. But with the country's money-no-object approach has come up with some innovative solutions.
In addition to building nine new stadiums, and renovating three existing ones, Qatar will fit each with state-of-the-art, solar-powered cooling systems designed to keep temperatures under 28 degrees and blow cool air across the necks and ankles of fans.
It's a good job, too, because opportunities to self-regulate temperatures in the traditional soccer style will be limited. In a state where public inebriation is punishable by fines and lashings, alcohol sales will be limited to select zones, as well as hotel bars. But trying to restrict the sales of booze is nothing new and merely part of FIFA's crackdown in an effort to curb hooliganism. In fact, the World Cup in Brazil in four years time will be the first at which alcohol sales are banned in the stadiums.
On the plus side, it won't be hard getting around. As the smallest country ever to play host to the tournament - just 11,437 square kilometres - visitors to Qatar will be able to stay in the same hotel for the entire month of competition, with every stadium located within one hour of each other and easily accessible thanks to $50-billion (U.S.) worth of planned upgrades to the country's transportation system.
Conversely, transportation will be one of Russia's biggest hurdles. With roughly 3,000 kilometres between Kaliningrad and Yekaterinburg, the two most extreme of the 13 host cities, travel is one of its chief concerns and one highlighted by FIFA in its initial evaluation of the bid. With the country already spending $20-billion a year on upgrading its transportation infrastructure, FIFA warned that Russia had best start the overhaul now to be ready on time, along with its $4-billion construction program to build 13 new stadiums and refurbish three existing ones.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has already promised free ground transportation to ticket-holders, and will waive visa restrictions for them too, in the same manner as Russia did when Moscow played host to the Champions League final two years ago.
But a one-off event such as the European Cup final is a different entity to a month-long soccer showcase, and the whole world will be watching as these two first-timers attempt to do it justice.