PwC becomes first sponsor of 2018 bid
PricewaterhouseCoopers has become the first sponsor of England’s bid to host the FIFA 2018 World Cup.
The accountancy firm will be the official “business adviser” to the campaign.
The company says it will “provide rigor and independent advice” to help the bid team in its discussions with “key stakeholders” including the Government and FIFA.
England’s bid to host the tournament has recently attracted criticism from FIFA vice-president Jack Warner. He labelled the bid “lightweight” and said it would benefit from making more use of well-known figures such as the Queen or David Beckham.
The bid team is reportedly facing a funding shortfall after being offered a £2.5m loan from the Government, half of what it was understood to have hoped for, to add to the £10m the Football Association is spending.
The PwC deal is the first secured by former Wembley commercial director Jonathan Gregory, who joined as director of partnerships in May.
Former Manchester United commercial director, Andy Anson has also been brought in as chief executive of the bid team.
