The decision to award the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups to Russia and Qatar, respectively, is an exercise in fair play and equality, according to FIFA vice-president and Government Minister Jack Warner, who wielded three votes in the process on behalf of the CONCACAF region, covering the Caribbean and North and Central American regions.

"As president of CONCACAF I am disappointed over the fact that the United States did not win the rights to host the 2022 World Cup.  But, like football, there can only be one winner. In the final analysis, I am certain that a CONCACAF nation will host the World Cup in 2026," said Warner yesterday after FIFA president Sepp Blatter announced the results of the FIFA executive committee's vote in Zurich.

The result meant bitter disappointment for England and joint-bidders Netherlands-Belgium and Spain-Portugal, who all lost out on the 2018 tournament, while Japan, Australia, South Korea and the USA were seeking to host the 2022 event.

"The power of football is universal, the game is not a constant but a changing tool for social transformation. By taking our flagship tournament to new territories we are signalling to the world that we live by our principle of fair play," Warner said in a news release.

"A fundamental belief is that for us growth is a way of life and we have to grow at all times. This decision will allow our game the opportunity for further growth. This tournament will now be held on virgin territories. We have given the local organising committees of both Russia and Qatar our golden torch to ensure that the future development and growth of this beautiful game continues."

Warner added: " We preach equality and equity… Our game  has the ability to transcend all boundaries, our game unites the world under one banner, our game sees no class, ethnicity and gender, now our beautiful game has taken on yet another role, it will now be the bridge between the West and the East. For too long we have seen the Middle East though our tainted perceptions. Let the FIFA World Cup of 2022 bring clarity to our vision. The 2022 World Cup will be the thread that will eventually create a bonding fabric between the East and the rest of the world. Let our game reduce the distance."

Warner described the battle for the World Cup rights as "gruelling" and said many of the countries which had entered the race to host the world's most popular tournament had made truly fascinating presentations.