Chairman of the Organizing Committee Russia-2018 Alexei Sorokin said that the draw for the games of the World Cup was held absolutely honestly. "The whole world saw how the draw was conducted, and who conducted it," Sorokin told Interfax,. He added that the machinations with heated balls are just legends. "No one has done this for a long time, if at all, once did, these are tales," the chairman of the organizing committee. Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter earlier said that when lots were drawn at the European level, there were manipulations with balloons for the draw. "Balls are put in the fridge before the draw, and then the slightest touch is enough to understand whether it's a heated ball or a cold one," says Blatter's words "Soviet Sport". According to Sorokin, the room in which the balls were kept was protected, in addition, "the status of people who participated in the drawing of lots is a guarantee of its absolute honesty". On the question of how it turned out that Russia was lucky with rivals, the sportsman replied that there could not be any other way. At the upcoming World Cup, Russia will play in a group with Saudi Arabia, Uruguay and Egypt.

The media immediately called an incredible success for the Russian team getting into such a weak group, because now it is on the 65th place in the FIFA rating. Opponents of Russia in the group are also far from the first places and even the top ten - for example, Saudi Arabia is located in 63rd place, Egypt - on the 31st, and Uruguay - on the 21st. In the first match of the championship on the field will come 2 the weakest rated teams: Russia and Saudi Arabia. World Cup 2018 will be held in Russia from June 14 to July 15.