FIFA's Blatter to attend World Cup preliminary draw

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, June 23 (UPI) -- Embattled FIFA President Sepp Blatter will attend the 2018 World Cup preliminary draw next week in St. Petersburg, Russia.

There was speculation Blatter, 79, would remain at FIFA headquarters in Zurich during the June 29 event at historic Konstantinovsky Palace, where 209 national teams will draw assignments for the soccer tournament's preliminary rounds. The internationally televised proceedings are regarded as the kick-off of World Cup events.

Blatter was not among the FIFA executives arrested in a corruption investigation earlier in June, organized by U.S. law enforcement officials, but there is speculation he risks arrest in a number of countries. "Of course he will attend. Preparations are going as planned," said Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko told the Russian news agency TASS Tuesday.

Blatter has not attended FIFA's Under-20 World Cup, currently underway in New Zealand for national teams comprised of male athletes under the age of 20, an event he was attended twice before, in 20012 and 2013. Neither Blatter nor Jerome Valcke, FIFA's second-in-command, has attended the Women's World Cup, in progress in Canada.

U.S. officials allege Valcke oversaw a $10 million transfer of payment to former FIFA vice president Jack Warner in exchange for Warner's support of South Africa to host the 2010 world Cup.