The 52-year-old Canadian, who has been President of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football since 2016, will manage and provide leadership to the Board of Directors.

His duties will include giving advice and counsel to the overall ticketing project, as well as "observing its implementation in accordance with the related policies and directives of FIFA".

"I am honoured for this appointment as chair on this Board and pleased to serve our FIFA membership to provide counsel for an important component to our core asset, the FIFA World Cup," Montagliani said.

Montagliani joins FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura, chief financial officer Thomas Peyer, chief commercial officer Philippe Le Floc'h and director operational legal Jörg Vollmüller on the board.

Following his election, Montagliani will be hoping to avoid a similar scenario when selling Russia 2018 tickets than at the 2014 edition in Brazil.

Ray Whelan, a former executive consultant of Match Services - a subsidiary of the company that provides tickets, hospitality and accommodation services for FIFA - was wrongly accused of selling VIP World Cup tickets at inflated prices.

Having spent 24 days in Brazil's notorious Bangu prison, the Briton was released on bail in August 2014 and allowed home three months later with Match guaranteeing his return for any possible trial.

Whelan was cleared of all charges in February 2015 and in September 2016, the highest Federal court in Brazil officially closed matters in his favour.

Brazilian police said Whelan had been arrested as part of a $100 million (£74 million/€83 million) ticket touting investigation.

However, supporters had claimed that the entire case was based on largely false information to allow Brazilian authorities to score a public relations coup after world football’s governing body FIFA had warned frequently about the illegal sale of tickets.

Match maintained that Whelan was simply fulfilling its obligations by legally attempting to resell packages that had been given back to the company late on.

Tickets for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia went on sale last week.

As of September 17, 500,000 ticket applications had already been made.

Fans can submit their applications via the FIFA ticketing website with tickets to be sold in two phases.

All applications made in the first phase, which closes on October 12, will enter a random selection draw if there is too much demand for the number of tickets.

The first phase of sales then opens from November 16 to 28, where tickets will be allocated first-come, first-served.

Another phase will begin on December 5 after the group-stage draw is made.

A final sales period will then take place from April 18 to July 15, the day of the World Cup final.

The tournament will be held between June 14 and July 15 with the final due to be held at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium.