Australia to bid for Football World Cup 2018

The news that FIFA are wanting to spread the game to all four corners of the globe make the possibility of Australia hosting the event more than just a pipe dream. There are many encouraging signs being made in support of Australia making a serious bid for the 2018 games.

With the 2015 Asian Cup likely of being held in Australia, a large proportion of the infrastructure required for the World Cup will already be in place.

Current Football Federation Australia (FFA) chairman Frank Lowy is confident that encouraging noises are being made regarding Australia’s chance of hosting the event but does not wish to tempt fate.

Potential rivals to Australia’s bid look likely to come from Europe where England, in a bid so far led more by their Government as opposed to the footballing body, and a joint bid by Portugal and Spain look likely to receive the backing of UEFA.

These nations have hosted large-scale football events in recent times and would have a head start in regards to stadia and travel infrastructure for this type of event - but there is no reason to discount Australia just yet.

England tendered a bid for the 2006 World Cup, which was eventually awarded to Germany, and although the English bid and media were extremely confident about their chances, they were dismissed extremely early on.

There are rumours that the FFA are using this as a dummy bid to test the waters in the hope of a proper bid for the 2022 World Cup, but with FIFA promising to bring the World Cup to soccer fans around the world, Australia stands a decent chance of hosting a World Cup in the foreseeable future.