MOSCOW — Russian officials said Wednesday that the arrests of top FIFA officials in Zurich and the promise of new investigations into corrupt practices at soccer’s international governing body would not derail Russia from hosting the World Cup in 2018.
“I see no threat to Russia or any problems,” Vitaly L. Mutko, the Russian sports minister, said in a telephone interview from Zurich, where officials from FIFA gathered for their annual meeting.
“There have already been many investigations” into alleged corruption in the awarding of the World Cup, Mr. Mutko said, adding that Russia would comply with Swiss law in a new investigation into the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups announced by Swiss prosecutors on Wednesday.