London's City Hall gets an extreme makeover today as the iconic building proudly sports a newly branded `wrap' in support of the England 2018 Bid to host the FIFA World Cup™. Created by leading event and venue branding specialist Icon, the wrap will be a 200 sq m display emblazoned across the windows of City Hall. The wrap is part of a nationwide city and venue dressing exercise implemented by Icon in support of England 2018 ahead of the FIFA inspection visit to the UK next week

Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, said: "City Hall has today become London's billboard for the 2018 World Cup Bid sporting a giant red and white banner created by London based branding agency Icon. The boys might not have brought the World Cup home this summer but we're right on track to bring the tournament here in 2018. In one hundred days time we could all be

World Cup winners and I believe that nowhere in the world could host a better World Cup than England for 2018, so wherever you are in the country, I'm urging you to back the bid."

John Francis, MD of Icon added: `We are delighted to have this opportunity to Back the Bid and be part of England's efforts to bring football home. The City Hall wrap is a big and bold branding statement that tells the world how important this bid is to the country. The aim is to capture the imagination of the FIFA delegates and inflame the passion of the nation to support England's 2018 Bid.'

Icon is also heavily involved in developing further branding opportunities in London, Manchester, Newcastle and Sunderland to communicate the whole country's support for the Bid. As Official Brand Dressing Agency, Icon implemented a similar programme for London's successful Olympic 2012 bid, and these experiences have proved invaluable in their work for the 2018 team.

Back England's bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup and London as a Candidate Host City. Visit www.england2018bid.com or Text `England' to 62018