Prince William will publicly help England's 2018 World Cup bid
Football Association chairman Lord Triesman has revealed Prince William will back England's 2018 World Cup bid.
The Prince is president of the FA and England midfielder David Beckham and ex-international John Barnes are vice-presidents for the battle to be hosts.
Triesman said: "Fifa guys meet very famous footballers all the time - it is not a surprise to them. The footballers have to bring something else.
"Beckham does and another person does in that generation - Prince William."
The prince is an Aston Villa fan and Triesman believes he and Los Angeles Galaxy star Beckham, who has agreed a loan spell at AC Milan, will boost the attempt to stage the tournament.
He added: "They are capable of having an extraordinary impact."
Triesman also feels the bid will bring the FA and Premier League back together.
Rifts between the two organisations have opened in recent months amid concern over the FA's Respect campaign, which aims to "combat unacceptable behaviour in our game at every level - on the pitch and from the sidelines", over claims that the top flight is not being listened to enough and FA director of football Sir Trevor Brooking's outspoken criticisms of youth development.
But Triesman knows the Premier League's global appeal will be crucial in gathering support ahead of the vote of the 24-man Fifa executive in December 2010 over the staging of the 2018 World Cup.
"This bid truly should bring the FA and Premier League together," he stated.
"I have not met anybody in any of the clubs, including the overseas owners, who doesn't want us to go for it.
"They are up for it. There is much more broad sympathy between groups than in the past, when they have not always meshed together. That is encouraging."
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