As you can see, I said Great Britain, not England, as it seems that:

Northern Ireland will be asked to take part in an all-out bid for the UK to host the 2018 World Cup, according to reports.

Northern Ireland, with Scotland and Wales, will be asked to join England, the main hosts, claims the Daily Mirror.

The news broke as the Chancellor Gordon Brown met Football Association director Sir Trevor Brooking and 1966 World Cup hero Sir Geoff Hurst at the Commons. Neither the Treasury nor the FA would comment.

“We really believe we’re in with a fantastic chance,” one unnamed official was quoted as telling the paper.

Full article: Belfast Telegraph