English hotels, restaurants and pub chains as well as sponsors and retailers will learn later today (2 December) whether the country will receive the expected £3bn commercial boost of being awarded the 2018 World Cup.
The bidding nations’ fate will be decided by FIFA’s 22-strong executive in Zurich at about 15.00, with England, a joint bid by Spain and Portugal and Russia the favourites to land the tournament.
England 2018’s bid team, fronted by Prince William, David Beckham and Prime Minster David Cameron made their final pitch this morning at 10.00.
The 2018 bid team has claimed that England would host the “most commercially successful World Cup ever”.
Andy Anson, the chief executive of England 2018, has said that the passion for football in the country, coupled with the popularity of English football across the world, will help boost sponsorship income.
England team backers including Carlsberg and Mars will also look to exploit their partnerships with World Cup-related activity and retailers will be handed the opportunity to boost sales with World Cup-related merchandise.
England’s bid has often been turbulent. Earlier this week, BBC’s Panorama programme alleged that FIFA executives had taken bribes. In May, bid chairman Lord Triesman was forced to step down after allegations he accused rival bidding nations of bribery.