BT joins the campaign as the Official Communications Partner for England 2018. As one of the world’s leading providers of communications solutions and services, BT is ideally placed to provide valuable support and advice around the communications services to be included in England’s final submission to FIFA in May. With millions of people wanting to watch the World Cup at home or on the move, BT can help deliver levels of communications services that will be an important part of England’s Bid to stage the FIFA World Cup™ in 2018.

BT will also provide the bid campaign with financial and marketing support and has the marketing rights as an Official England 2018 World Cup Bid Partner.

Gavin Patterson, CEO of BT Retail, said: "We’re absolutely delighted to be the first major consumer partner to support the bid to stage the 2018 FIFA World Cup. BT is extremely passionate about backing national initiatives that have the potential to bring so much enjoyment and business opportunities to our shores. As such, it’s only fitting that BT should be involved in this campaign.

"Access to communications services, especially high-speed broadband and IPTV, would be absolutely crucial to allowing people to watch the games and associated news and events. This decision, along with our current involvement in London 2012 demonstrates BT’s deep resources and capabilities to provide some of the most vital services and expertise for the world’s greatest sporting events."

BT has a strong track record of investing in sport in the UK. The company played an important role in supporting the London 2012 bid and is now the official communications services partner for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. BT is also the title sponsor of the BT Paralympic World Cup, the largest annual elite multi-sport disability event in the world, and was the first commercial partner of the British Paralympic Association in 1989.

England 2018 Chief Executive Andy Anson said: "The support of BT is an extremely significant step forward for us as it shows tremendous confidence in England’s Bid. BT’s association with London’s successful 2012 Olympic campaign shows there is a real understanding of a bidding process and all it entails. We are delighted to be working with a communications partner who can provide support and advice in a critical area of the technical Bid we make to FIFA and in marketing the bid domestically and internationally." England 2018, the organisation leading England’s campaign to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup, announced BT as an Official Partner. This major new partnership will help England 2018 in its ambition to bring the 2018 FIFA World Cup to England.