Russia football World Cup in 2018 may have two mascots

Moscow, Sep 25 (IANS) Russias Sports Minister and head of the Russian Football Union Vitaly Mutko has not ruled out the 2018 World Cup in Russia may have two mascots.

"The mascot competition has made a certain route, and three (images) have been chosen," he told reporters on Saturday, reports Tass.

"Now open voting continues. Perhaps, two mascots may be chosen."

The presentation of three finalists (a cat, a tiger and a wolf) took place on September 23 in Moscow during the "Circle of Light" international festival.

"This special event will mark the beginning of an all-Russia voting, the results of which will be announced on October 21," FIFA's press service has said earlier.

"Then, the World Cup mascot will be selected."

The 2018 World Cup will be held between June 14 and July 15 in 11 Russian cities, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Saransk, Kaliningrad, Volgograd, Yekaterinburg, Samara, Sochi and Rostov-on-Don.