DHAKA: World football boss Sepp Blatter said that Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) categorically backs Russia's aspiration of the 2018 World Cup and praised its preparations.

"FIFA unconditionally supports the staging of the World Cup by Russia," he told the media in comments on Tuesday, reports bangkokpost.com.

However, diplomatic sources said last month that European nations were discussing a British-backed plan to boycott president Vladimir Putin's showpiece staging of the World Cup because of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

"A boycott will never give any positive effect," Blatter said, adding, "We trust the country, its government”.

BDST: 2135 HRS, OCT 28, 2014