The battle for the Niagara Falls World Cup viewing spot just got nasty. British tourism chiefs have thrown their weight behind a UK hosting bid, and the stench of desperation is thick in the air.
Whitehall sources tell me that the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport has been working the phones. Leaks suggest that 'VisitBritain' has been instructed to push a rival plan. The goal? To set up an official UK viewing area near the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. This is a direct challenge to the US operators who currently dominate the site.
Why the sudden push? A senior Tory backbencher, speaking on condition of anonymity, told me: 'We cannot let the Americans corner this. The World Cup is a global event. British tourism needs a piece of that pie.' The source added that the PM's office is 'monitoring the situation closely'.
But this is not just about tourism. This is about political optics. The government is desperate for a win. Polls show Labour ahead by 12 points. A successful bid could be spun as a 'global Britain' victory. No. 10 is already briefing friendly journalists that the bid has 'traction'.
Not everyone is happy. The UK's own official 'World Cup Fanzone' plans have been plagued by delays. Councils are up in arms about funding. One Labour MP described the Niagara bid as 'a vanity project for a government that has lost its way'.
Behind the scenes, the real action is in the back rooms. The 'Niagara Falls World Cup Viewing Spot' committee is a tangled web of local politicians, tourism boards, and FIFA intermediaries. I am told the UK has hired a well-known lobbyist with deep ties to Canadian business. He is the one making the calls.
What does this mean for the average punter? Very little. But for the political class, this is a proxy war. The outcome will be read as a sign of the government's influence. If they win, expect a gush of patriotic briefings. If they lose, the usual suspects will be blamed: the EU, the Canadians, the pandemic.
Watch this space. The next 48 hours will be crucial. I have a source inside the committee meeting tonight. I will update as soon as I hear anything.
For now, the game is on.
