England's World Cup bid team believes Prince William's engagement could provide a ''halo effect'' for the campaign when he lobbies for support ahead of next month's vote.
The global media spotlight has been on England since Tuesday's announcement that the second in line to the British throne is engaged to Kate Middleton.
William is due to be in Zurich in the days before the Dec. 2 vote, trying to persuade FIFA's executive committee to award England the World Cup in 2018.
England 2018 chief executive Andy Anson says the engagement ''is fantastic news and if it has a halo effect for our bid then all well and good.''
Anson says that William, England midfielder David Beckham and Prime Minister David Cameron will be a ''potent campaigning force'' in Zurich.
