Australia's bid for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup

[Arabmariner]

I'd love to be at one before I'm too old Meaning 2026 is our next chance if we miss out on this one making me 45.

??? ??? ??? Ah well it looks like me and some others on here are f**ked and due for the knackers yard then!

I didn't realise it was the world cup for the under 45's! 

 

[Razorback]

Haha!!! Sorry about that! I guess your f**ked then.

 

[Jesus]

It's ludicrous that they're so focussed on 2018 - 2022 is the one to go for, it'll have been 20 years since Asia hosted it by then

I dont see why england is so unbeatable? They lost to the germans in 06 easy enough.

I think that we would find it harder against the money of russia, though putin himself could make that less likely, or the numbers of china if they bid.

3 turns out of europe, but only 2 out of their timezone.

In the end it will go down to the money thrown at it, and the politics involved. Nothing is free. And history means nothing in the executive.

If we heavily lobby the South americans, and get their backing, would be huge.
Assuming that europe will vote collectively. Though with so many european nations interested, and russias lack of caring for general european policy, that may not happen.

Lowy has enough money to buy it. And he has the wits. I wont rule him out.

 

[Jesus]

further reading from a similar article to midfielders in the herald...

FFA boss Ben Buckley spoke at the Leaders in Football conference in London last week and received positive feedback from international delegates about Australia's chances of landing the World Cup ahead of a powerful bid from England.

Buckley delivered a presentation to the conference on the A-League, football's rise in Australia and plans for 2018. FFA remains confident a bid for the 2018 World Cup is a serious proposition and not just a dress rehearsal for a potentially more realistic tilt at 2022 - even with England and Russia lining up as rivals.

Working against Australia's campaign is that 2018 would be the third consecutive World Cup to be held in the southern hemisphere after South Africa in 2010 and Brazil in 2014, a run of events that does not impress football's international powerbrokers in Europe.

However, as England assembles a strong team of advisers, including well-connected former FIFA heavyweights, the country's bid may be undone by what should be one of its strongest selling points.

Premier League clubs are believed to be underwhelmed by proposals for the England Football Association, an independent body from the top league, to become the official regulatory body for the sport in that country.

The Premier League is expected to resist the move and several top clubs considered paramount in winning international votes for a 2018 World Cup in England, are also reluctant to use their international influence without reward.

 

[FFC Mariner]

Dont under estimate the loathing that England attract from the rest of Europe.

Ze Chermans easily won the 06 bid

 

[midfielder]

From the ABC an interview

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/programguide/stories/200810/s2398071.htm

Presenter: Karen Barlow
Speakers: Geoffrey Gold, Sports analyst

World Cup could generate billions
Print Email
Updated 8 hours 3 minutes ago


The Australia's government is currently considering economic modelling that suggests a successful bid to host the Football World Cup in 2018 or 2022 could be a three-to-four billion US dollar winner for Australia.

Staging such an event would be on par with holding the Olympics with benefits in the fields of jobs, tourism, infrastructure spending and sponsorship. But a serious bid to host the World Cup is no certainty and is not without cost.

Presenter: Karen Barlow
Speakers: Geoffrey Gold, Sports analyst

Listen: Windows Media
(Sound of soccer match and commentator)

KAREN BARLOW: While the Socceroos strive to make it to the 2010 Football World Cup finals, the local football machinery is making the case to have the four yearly event come to Australia.

Sports analyst Geoffrey Gold says a 2018 or 2022 World Cup is worth fighting for.

GEOFFREY GOLD: The World Cup is probably equal to the Olympic Games in world attention, it has a viewing audience probably only matched by the opening, closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games.

KAREN BARLOW: AM understands that Federal Cabinet is about to crunch the numbers on supporting a serious cup bid.

Such political support is needed if football's world governing body, FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association), will consider it.

It is understood that 50 to $60-million would be needed to during the bid process.

Geoffrey Gold from Sports Dynamics says it may be a difficult ask in the current economic climate.

GEOFFREY GOLD: Most people expect that the impact will only be if Australia wins the right to hold the World Cup, but in fact, the negotiations will start next year and go on until at least 2011. So the impact of Australia's commitment to the World Cup will have an impact domestically and regionally right from next year.

KAREN BARLOW: So what would Australia get out of hosting the football World Cup?

Based on the previous World Cup in Germany, estimations are that there would be a $5.3-billion benefit, much of it coming from more than a million international visitors.

There's spending on tickets, accommodation, meals and transport around the states.

The national teams and their supporters will be spending up big on training facilities, five star accommodation and transport.

The big ask, beyond the bid process, is infrastructure spending on at least 8 stadiums needed to host World Cup matches.

Some may need to be built from scratch, while existing stadiums could be extended to hold 40,000 spectators or more.

But Geoffrey Gold says that's if the other football codes agree.

GEOFFREY GOLD: The AFL and the National Rugby League will lose their stadiums for up to two months, maybe more, in the middle of their seasons in 2022 if Australia gets the World Cup.

So the demand from the Australian Government for these major codes to move over, to shift over, to accommodate soccer will be on the agenda from next year.

KAREN BARLOW: Japan and China are expected to bid for the World Cup too, possibly splitting the votes in football's Asian region.

There may be a pre-selection vote to present a united Asian front, but the influential head of the Asian Football Confederation Mohamed bin Hammam has already publicly supported an Australian bid.

 

[midfielder]

Cabinet to consider World Cup Bid.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/22/2397919.htm?section=sport


Cabinet to consider World Cup bid

Posted October 22, 2008 10:29:00

Federal Cabinet considers Football World Cup bid (AM) An Australian bid to host football's World Cup is expected to go before Federal Cabinet today.

It is understood Cabinet is considering whether to host an event as big as the Olympics, but covering only one sport.

Based on the last World Cup finals in Germany, an Australian-hosted event could pump $5.3 billion into the local economy.

The figure is based on almost five million spectators and more than one million international tourists.

The bid requires at least eight stadiums which can hold 40,000 people.

Construction and stadium refitting would need to be funded and the bid process itself could cost up to $60 million.

Japan and China are expected to bid for the Cup too, possibly splitting the votes in football's Asian region.

There may be a preselection vote to present a united Asian front, but the influential head of the Asian Football Confederation, Mohamed Bin Hammam, has already publicly supported an Australian bid.

 

[midfielder]

Two similar stories about support from rival codes first from the smh second one next post.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/football/rival-codes-get-behind-2018-cup-bid-with-stadiums-deal/2008/11/14/1226318927771.html

Rival codes get behind 2018 Cup bid with stadiums deal


November 15, 2008

AUSTRALIA'S 2018 World Cup bid has received a huge boost, with rival codes set to allow football first access to the venues it needs to host the tournament.

The World Cup finals are traditionally held from June to July - right in the middle of the AFL and NRL seasons.

But what was set to be one of the major sticking points to Australia's ability to properly host the tournament - access to multi-purpose venues used for AFL and rugby league - looks to have been removed.

It is understood AFL, rugby league and rugby union have given their support to football using the 10 venues it would need to host the tournament.

AFL's demand for stadiums during its season, especially in Melbourne, was looming as the biggest problem.

But a meeting this week between the AFL and Football Federation Australia is understood to have agreed on several possible compromises.

The most likely outcome in Melbourne is that the AFL will allow World Cup matches to be staged at the MCG and keep Telstra Dome for its home-and-away fixtures.

The new 32,000-seat rectangular soccer and rugby league stadium being built in Melbourne by 2010 would be beefed up to the 40,000 level it needs to meet World Cup regulations.

Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium and Sydney's ANZ Stadium and the Sydney Football Stadium would also be certain starters to host matches. But Adelaide and Perth would require new stadiums or substantially upgraded ones, while Newcastle and the Gold Coast are also being considered as possible match hosts.

The spirit of camaraderie from other football codes would also satisfy another important requirement from soccer's world governing body, FIFA: that the World Cup bid is seen to have complete national support.

FFA chief executive Ben Buckley was tight-lipped on the specifics of the bid and any meetings with other codes, but he said the FFA was very happy with how the bid was progressing and had been working hard to have as much in place as possible by the time FIFA unveiled the bidding process next month.

"We've put a fairly substantial submission forward to the Federal Government," Buckley said this week. "There's work going on behind the scenes in terms of organisational planning, tactical planning, technical planning, so we've very happy with where we're at."

A FIFA executive committee meeting in Tokyo on December 19 will hammer out details of the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids. A final decision on the winning 2018 bid - and possibly the 2022 bid - will be made by mid 2011.

Other expressions of interest to host the tournament have come from China, England, Russia, United States, Spain, Qatar and Mexico, with a combined Netherlands-Belgium bid announced this week.

 

[midfielder]

Same or similar in real footy ......... I hope this vision is not true as it would be madness to build the AFL a stadium on the Gold Coast to get access to their stadiums

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/afl-help-sought-for-soccer-bid/2008/11/14/1226318935613.html

AFL help sought for soccer bid

Dan Silkstone | November 15, 2008

THE AFL could be forced to move premiership matches interstate or even overseas if Australia wins the right to host the 2018 or 2022 soccer World Cup.

But in exchange for giving ground to a competing code the league would inherit a new set of stadiums built to host the largest event in world sport.

That would likely include a new AFL stadium on the Gold Coast overcoming one of the most significant impediments to the AFL's successful expansion into the area.

All of those possibilities were contained in detailed plans put to AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou during a two-hour meeting with Football Federation Australia counterpart Ben Buckley on Thursday.

FFA is keen to win support for its bid from rival codes and Buckley presented the AFL with a plan drawn up by PriceWaterhouse Coopers.

The plan details how the major football codes would be affected by a World Cup and outlines possible fixture and scheduling changes.

While rugby league and rugby union have also been consulted negotiations with the AFL are considered the most crucial for soccer authorities.

During the meeting, The Age believes Buckley, who was Demetriou's No. 2 at the AFL before joining FFA, presented Demetriou with a list of 10 major infrastructure projects FFA is considering lobbying for as part of its World Cup pitch and asked which the AFL considered most important.

One of those was a new Gold Coast Stadium meeting FIFA requirements for a capacity of 40,000.

The AFL has struggled to secure funding to build a new stadium for its Gold Coast franchise and has appeared set to play matches at derelict Carrara. Rugby league's Titans and soccer's new Gold Coast United both play at the new 27,000-capacity Skilled Park.

FIFA rules require countries bidding for the World Cup to have at least 10 stadiums that meet international criteria. While the lack of an AFL stadium is one of the competitive advantages soccer enjoys over Australian rules on the Gold Coast, FFA is prepared to back a new facility and use the Gold Coast as a World Cup host city.

In exchange for that and other new or refurbished stadiums in Perth and Adelaide, soccer wants the AFL to support its bid and make room for a month of World Cup matches.

Two possible compromises have been offered to the AFL for consideration. In the first, Telstra Dome would be used exclusively for AFL games and World Cup matches would be hosted at the MCG and the new rectangular stadium being built in the Olympic Park precinct. In order for that to happen, capacity at the new stadium would have to be lifted from 32,000 to 40,000 (a capability that is already built into the original design).

In the alternative plan, matches would be shifted to Adelaide and Perth and could even be moved overseas to destinations such as Dubai.

FFA's bid proposal is currently being considered by the Federal Government but has previously been backed by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and state premiers. FIFA will decide next month whether to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cups simultaneously. Other countries to have entered the bidding already include Russia, England and Spain. Possible bids are believed to be being weighed by China and Qatar, which are members of Australia's Asian Confederation.

 

[FFC Mariner]

Every little helps  - FB cause up and running, 1878 members so far

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/38421?m=611088da&recruiter_id=29230215

 

[Rowdy]

Just what we need  :, to be at the mercy of a rival code. We shouldn't be assisting a competitor for bums on seats/ hearts and minds to expand into new territories.

We should be focusing on taking the number one spot through our own endeavours, then & only then can we stop to listen to their 'begs' of assistance.

 

[Jesus]

Why build a new stadium on th gold coast?
If skilled cant be upgraded then why build a stadium for afl?

Expand bluey first.

We really need the FFA to not settle for anything but purpose built football stadiums.

 

[Redline]

Doing anything else would seem to me to be counter productive in the long term view. Yes, we need access to the MCG or the Dome to have the crowd capacity because as much as various rival codes won't admit it, Football is the biggest game in the world, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if every match sold out and the heads of Thugby League and the AFL are left wondering what Slumbering Giant has awoken.

 

[Redline]

Just watching THe World Game...THe SA Premier was just on and promised that if Australia won the right to host a World Cup, he will do whatever it takes to ensure that the funding is provided to ensure SA have a stadium to cater for the FIFA requirements to host matches.

 

[midfielder]

This could be fun if they pull it off.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/national/national/sport/balls-and-all-australia-audaciously-bids-for-sporting-bonanza/1373458.aspx?storypage=0

Balls and all: Australia audaciously bids for sporting bonanza
ROY MASTERS
29/11/2008 1:00:01 AM

AUSTRALIA could host the world's major sporting festivals by 2020, if a cartel of the nation's powerbrokers succeeds in winning bids to stage world cups in football and rugby union, together with an Olympic Games for Brisbane or Melbourne.

Football and rugby union have held talks on a joint strategy to stage world cups in 2018 and 2019 respectively, while the Queensland Government and Victoria's Major Events Company have lodged preliminary bids with the Australian Olympic Committee to host a Summer Games between 2020 and 2030.

AOC president John Coates said: "The Queensland Government and Victoria's Major Events boss, Sir Rodney Eddington, have both shown interest in bidding for an Olympic Games between 2020 and 2030, and I told Sir Rod that Australia's best chance is for a city which hasn't had the Games.

"That means Brisbane, but we've got to look at whether Brisbane will have the infrastructure by 2020. While I don't want them spending money - it costs $50 million alone for an Olympic bid - they've got to look at leaving land for a stadium and an Olympic Village contiguous with it. If Brisbane is up for it, we'll support them but, if not, it's Melbourne."

Should the 2018, 2019 and 2020 bids be successful, Generation Z will be gifted a legacy of stadiums and sports facilities the envy of the world.

Although sport is tightening its belt, given the global economic crisis, an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development report this week said Australia was one of a handful of developed countries whose economies were expected to grow.

Football's World Cup is the biggest show on earth. The commercial rights to the 2010 tournament in South Africa sold for $3.4 billion, 30 per cent more than Germany 2006.

Football Federation Australia boss Frank Lowy has been lobbying the Federal Government and FIFA executive, travelling to Beijing during the Olympics to meet confederation bosses. A winning World Cup bid also delivers the Confederations Cup, played a year earlier as a rehearsal.

Furthermore, Australia is an early favourite to stage the 2015 Asian Cup, a 45-nation tournament with 16 finalists that would initiate the momentum for a major event almost every year from 2015 to 2020, creating billions of dollars in economic impact and distributing infrastructure costs over a decade.

Complicating this future jigsaw of cities, stadiums and sports is the possibility that Australia will host another Commonwealth Games in 2018, with the Gold Coast, Perth and Adelaide considering bids.

However, no Australian government would support both a football World Cup and a Commonwealth Games in the same year, and FFA is concerned the Australian Commonwealth Games Association's interest could undermine their 2018 bid.

The withdrawal of a Gold Coast Commonwealth Games bid would frustrate the AFL's expansion plans, given the fact a stadium with a circular ground, used for track and field and opening and closing ceremonies, could have been used by the AFL's 17th team.

Events NSW, the state government-funded body responsible for attracting international festivals and tournaments, is chaired by ARU executive director John O'Neill, who presumably would see a 2018 football World Cup complementing the ARU's plan to bid for rugby union's tournament in 2019. "Events NSW is enormously supportive of Australia hosting the FIFA World Cup at the earliest opportunity," O'Neill said. "No country in the world is better equipped to stage major international events. Look at the success we had with the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the 2003 Rugby World Cup, the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and you can throw in World Youth Day.

"We are a long way from everywhere but when we stage international events, we do an outstanding job."

The major events wish list program of men such as Lowy, Coates and O'Neill, together with senior politicians, includes the 2015 Asia Cup, 2017 Confederations Cup, 2018 football World Cup, 2019 rugby union World Cup and 2020 Olympic Games.

While this may be a grandiose schedule, England and its capital are positioning themselves to host a similar sequence, having already won the 2012 London Olympics, and are favourites for the 2015 rugby World Cup and challengers to Australia for FIFA's tournaments in 2017 and 2018.

Australia's opponents for 2017-18 point out South Africa will host the 2010 World Cup and Brazil has already been allocated the 2014 tournament, meaning it is unlikely FIFA would award a third successive World Cup to the southern hemisphere but FIFA has already shown an inclination to seek growth areas, with Australia's growing reputation in Asia assisting its cause.

It is believed Lowy has the backing of the Asian confederation, which is traditionally supported by Africa, meaning their eight votes, with Oceania's one, makes the 13 votes needed from FIFA's 24-man executive a possibility.

Lowy, one of Australia's richest men, has strong international connections, particularly in Europe where he used his business dealings with a Dutch bank to hire Guus Hiddink, the man who guided the Socceroos to a 2006 World Cup play-off with eventual winners, Italy.

Lowy is also adept at having governments pay football's bills, with FFA winning $50m in funding the past three years from the Federal Government, while Events NSW has outlaid more money for it than any other sport.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has committed to the 2018 bid, which will require him to tip in a further $50m, involving $5m in submitting the bid, travel costs ($6m), wages ($8m), public relations expenses ($6m), operational costs ($5m), marketing ($4m) and creating events to impress FIFA executives.

Complicating Australia's position is a FIFA ruling that both the 2018 and 2022 hosts will be decided at the same time, and no country can bid for both, although this may be unlocked at a FIFA meeting in Tokyo on December 19.

The decision to bundle both is designed to increase the value of the overall package in the commercial sense, meaning broadcasters and sponsors have certainty for a quadrennium and can build infrastructure.

Insofar as Europe will almost certainly win one bid, it's in Australia's interests to keep the cups bundled. Furthermore, because Europe delivers most of the financial might of the world game, FIFA could look at the southern hemisphere being a possible loss leader in 2018 for a guaranteed money-making venture in the northern hemisphere in 2022.

Given the certainty Europe will be awarded one cup, China could scuttle Australia's chances.

If two countries from the same region bid, the confederation's president remains neutral, meaning any support Lowy may have secured from Asia's boss, Mohamed bin Hammam, and Africa will evaporate.

Indications are China, with a poor playing record in past Olympics, world cups and the Asian Cup, will wait until 2022.

Lowy has the support of FIFA boss Sepp Blatter. "I have become very friendly with Blatter, who is an IOC member, and I have absolutely no doubt he holds Frank in great respect," Coates said.

"I took Frank to meet him in Zurich, and he is clearly impressed with the changes Frank has made in Australian football."

However, Lynton Taylor, a long-term sports marketing and TV consultant, said Blatter's role was to encourage as many countries as possible to express an interest in the bidding process. This was evident at the beginning of the FIFA Congress in Sydney in May when Blatter was very bullish about Australia's chances for 2018. However, at the end of the week, with one foot on the plane, he suggested 2022 might be a better opportunity.

"His support is critical to a country's success," Taylor said. "He has at his disposal not only the position he holds but the financial and favour opportunities afforded the man in that position."

Blatter threw all his emotional capital behind South Africa winning the 2006 bid but changed the rule, meaning the executive voted, rather than delegates from all the world's football-playing countries, ensuring Germany won.

Wooing 13 FIFA executive members as opposed to 207 delegates will assist a small country like Australia, making it easier for Lowy. He will be 87 in 2018, and is expected to devote his considerable energy to winning - and holding - 13 FIFA votes between now and the announcement of the host country in 2011. IN THE OFFING 2015: ASIA CUP (football)

2017: CONFEDERATIONS CUP (football)

2018: COMMONWEALTH GAMES (Gold Coast, Perth or Adelaide)

2018: WORLD CUP (football)

2019: RUGBY WORLD CUP

2020-2030: OLYMPIC GAMES (Brisbane or Melbourne)

 

[marinersman]

Thanks MF, I enjoyed reading that. No doubt about it, you're our media watch man.

Interesting times ahead. I think Lowy is the only man who can possibly deliver us the WC. It seems to be he is hellbent on getting it and has made it an obsession. I think it's fair to say we're in good hands with him driving it.

 

[Redline]

ZOMG. I'm excited just thinking about the possibilities. THat would be phenomenal for the country, and if we were to get even 2 off that list...say the rugby and the football world cups, how much support would be generated at govt levels for ground expansion etc.

One think of note..Lowy will be 87 in 2018...who takes over and how much will that change when he passes on?

 

[midfielder]

The funding has arrived.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/football/govt-tips-46m-into-2018-cup-push/2008/12/09/1228584839563.html

Govt tips $46m into 2018 cup push

Jacquelin Magnay

December 10, 2008



IT'S now official. After all of the talk over the past 10 months, launches, behind-the-scenes manoeuvring and the wooing of FIFA head Sepp Blatter, the Federal Government has put its money where its mouth is.

This week the Federal Government approved $45.6 million for Football Federation Australia to lobby for the 2018 Football World Cup. The money, which will be paid over the next three years, is to secure at least 13 votes of the 24-strong FIFA executive to gain Australia 2018 hosting rights ahead of England, Russia, the United States, Spain, Qatar, Mexico, a combined Netherlands-Belgium bid and, possibly, China.

Federal cabinet had been considering the football funding for some time but signed off on it - after slightly shaving the requested figure - earlier this week. It is understood the FFA sought more than $50 million but the global economic crisis tempered the original expectations.

Still, the amount approved is a massive commitment and represents the equivalent of $3.5 million for each of the 13 votes needed, or $1.9 million for each of the 24 members of the FIFA executive. The executive is meeting in Tokyo on December 19 to ratify the 2018 and 2022 selection process.

It had been thought Australia's bid would benefit from FIFA's plan to announce the hosts for the two world cups at the same time, but that system has been temporarily deferred after some members of the executive objected to such a lengthy lead-in time for the 2022 event.

FFA will use the funding to establish a bid team with a small but influential executive, led by FFA chairman Frank Lowy. This will push Australia's case to host the football-fest, which promises to boost tourism and attract a cumulative broadcast viewing audience of more than 26 billion. It is anticipated the FFA will send representatives to the Tokyo meeting to garner details about the voting process and formally announce its candidature. Government ministers have strongly supported the bid as a way to promote Australia and they said the money was a clear signal the Government was fully behind the bid.

"This sends a clear message to the football world that Australia is serious about hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup," the Minister for Sport, Kate Ellis, said.

"The Australian Government will work in partnership with the Football Federation Australia and state and territory governments in a united approach to building the strongest bid possible for the 2018 event."

It is expected that the bid will be lodged at the end of 2010 with a FIFA decision expected in March 2011.

"While we recognise that the task ahead presents huge challenges, we are also inspired by the opportunity to promote Australia and take our nation's sporting identity to a new high," she said. "Australia has an exemplary record in hosting international sporting events."

Officials from Australia's other football codes have swung behind the bid, with the AFL preparing to release the MCG for World Cup matches and transfer AFL matches to Docklands.

 

[brett]

Fantastic!

It's going to be f**kin hard being in the southern hemisphere and with the countries lining up against us.

But it would be a joke if the USA had it again so soon, and we best fit the criteria for 'emerging football nation', plus we know how to hold a f**kin good event. There's a lot of pros and cons for our bid tbh. As we know, so much of the work is done behind closed doors and under the table. In Lowy we...place our hopes.

 

[northernspirit]

Fantastic!

It's going to be f**kin hard being in the southern hemisphere and with the countries lining up against us.

But it would be a joke if the USA had it again so soon, and we best fit the criteria for 'emerging football nation', plus we know how to hold a f**kin good event. There's a lot of pros and cons for our bid tbh. As we know, so much of the work is done behind closed doors and under the table. In Lowy we...place our hopes.

alot of wheeling and dealing, i hope the FFA recruits some of the people from the sydney 2000 bid to assist with it all... usa cant have it, its a bigger marrket but as you said its too recent.

i just hope we dont put all our eggs in the one basket, miss out on 2018 to england and get shafted by the afc on 2022 in favour of a bid from another asian nation - this is why we really need the decision for both 2018 and 2022 to be made at the same time... 2022 wc in aus is a very nice consilation assuming the northern hemisphere will get 2018