The USA Bid Committee has announced it is forming a partnership with a cable channel in its effort to bring the FIFA World Cup to the United States in 2018 or 2022. The organization on Monday named Fox Soccer Channel as an official partner.

“The challenge and privilege of hosting a FIFA World Cup is enormous, as we are seeing here in South Africa,” said Sunil Gulati, chairman of the USA Bid Committee and president of U.S. Soccer. “The same can be said for the bidding process. Corporate support is an important component to a successful bid, and now we’re very fortunate to count Fox Soccer Channel as a friend and official partner of our endeavor to bring the FIFA World Cup to the United States in 2018 or 2022.”

Fox Soccer Channel and its associated platforms, Fox Soccer Plus and Foxsoccer.com, will begin a series of corporate sponsorship announcements for the U.S. bid in the coming weeks, the channel said in a press release.

“As the leading source for soccer programming and information in the United States, Fox Soccer Channel, Fox Soccer Plus and Foxsoccer.com is proud to join forces with the USA Bid Committee as a corporate sponsor to bring the most important event in soccer to the United States,” said David Nathanson, general manager of Fox Soccer Channel. “We are committed to using all of our resources to be a driving force behind support for the USA bid.”

The United States and the eight competing bids submitted their official bid books to FIFA in a formal ceremony in Zurich May 14. FIFA’s 24‑member Executive Committee will name the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments on Dec. 2, 2010, completing a 21-month bid and review process.

The United States, England and Russia have formally declared their desire to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022. Netherlands-Belgium and Portugal-Spain have each submitted joint bids for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, while Australia, Japan, Qatar and South Korea are candidates to host the tournament in 2022.