FIFA invited Bell Pottinger, Edelman, Weber Shandwick, Hill+Knowlton Strategies and Burson-Marsteller to pitch for the brief, however PRWeek understands that Edelman pulled out of the process.
The immediate focus of the stakeholder relations and crisis management brief is on Russia, but WS will also work on the Qatar tournament.
In the run up to the appointment one source with knowledge of the brief described it as "mission impossible".
FIFA said in a statement: "We work regularly with many agencies to further our mission. We have engaged Weber Shandwick to support us on World Cup communications."
