Putin: Abramovich, open your wallet

Rome - Russian leader Vladimir Putin is courting the private sector to help build stadiums for the 2018 World Cup in his country.

Italian daily La Stampa on Saturday is quoting the prime minister's remarks in Zurich earlier in the week after Russia won the bid for football's most prestigious competition.

Putin says the 2018 Cup will be an edition "financed by private companies". He says oil company Lukoil will build one stadium for Moscow, while investment bank VTB Capital will sponsor another. Gazprom will fund work in St. Petersburg.

Putin urged Chelsea club owner Roman Abramovich to "open his wallet." He joked that the billionaire has so much money, it won't hurt him to contribute.

Russia also is hosting the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.