Ahead of the final in Moscow between France and Croatia, Putin met at the Kremlin with Qatar's emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Putin said Russia's FIFA World Cup has been a success and 'I am sure that our friend from Qatar will succeed at holding the FIFA 2022 World Cup at the same highest level'.
Putin ceremonially handed a football to the emir to mark the transfer to Qatar, which will be the first Arab country to host the tournament.
The emir said through a translator that the FIFA World Cup 'will be a huge and great festival for all our country'.
