Australia backs 2018 World Cup bid

Source: Agencies  |   2008-12-11  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

AUSTRALIA'S bid to host the 2018 World Cup received a major boost yesterday when the federal government pledged A$45.6 million (US$30 million) to help the campaign.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the government intended to work closely with the Football Federation of Australia to give Australia the best chance of hosting the soccer tournament.

"Today's announcement sends a clear message to the football world that Australia is serious about hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup," Rudd said in a statement.

Australia faces stiff opposition to win the right to host the tournament against rival bidders from Europe, the Americas and Asia.

Belgium and the Netherlands, who are preparing a joint bid, have already formally announced their intentions while the United States, Mexico, England, Spain and China have all expressed their interest.

England, which hosted the World Cup in 1966, is widely regarded as the early favorite with most corporate bookmakers.

Although Australia has successfully hosted the Olympics on two occasions and a string of other international events, the country has never previously bid for the World Cup and only played in the finals on two occasions.

"This is not an impossible dream. It is very achievable," FFA Chairman Frank Lowy said.

"While I understand that there is a view emanating from Europe that it may well be the turn of Europe to be the hosts in 2018, the fact is football is a world game.

"Europe has unquestionably been the focus of football growth and development for much of the past 80 years, but the future of football is in the 'new world' - that is, the developing and growing regions of the world such as Asia," he said.

The official bidding process begins next year with FIFA expected to announce the successful candidate by December 2010. FIFA President Sepp Blatter has also flagged the possibility of running a dual nomination so the 2022 host can be decided at the same time.