Aus2018.com

England’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd took time away from their busy CHOGM schedules to meet with FIFA Vice President Jack Warner in Trinidad today, to discuss the 2018 World Cup bid.

Both countries will be presenting bids to the FIFA Executive Committee to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cups.

A decision on the host country for the tournaments will be taken in December 2010.

Earlier this morning Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, less than an hour after arriving in Trinidad,  held a meeting with  FIFA Vice President Jack Warner at the residence of the Australian Ambassador in Cascade.

During discussions Warner inquired from Prime Minister Rudd about the development of the football in Australia.

 Prime Minister Rudd responded “from Strength to strength”, he went on to add that FIFA must look at ways to expand the world globally and it is in this regard Australia may hold the key.

“We must look at innovative ways to grow the game and what better way to do it that in a region which is exploding”

Warner told the PM that the World Cup bid isn’t only about figures, but it is about  a host nation’s social responsibility, its commitment to the world.

To that comment the charismatic leader responded “Australia is looking to expand its diplomatic footprint in the globe and we are using sport as a mechanism to do this.”

And it seems as though the Australian movement is serious about its commitment, Prime Minister Rudd explained that the country intends to expand the number of scholarships, including football scholarships being offered by the government globally

Prime Minster Rudd went on to expand on a number of initiatives his government has implemented in his country using sport as a mechanism to trigger social transformation.

Warner commended the Australian Prime Minister on his commitment to the 2018 bid.

“Mr. Prime Minister, I am impressed by your commitment and involvement in this process.’

Australia has successfully hosted a number of international sporting events including the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games.  Its track record prompted Warner to say “Your country has demonstrated your ability to host World Class events in the past.”

PM Rudd thanked Warner for his compliment saying “ We have a strong bid and it will only get stronger”

Last week Warner told international media that Australia had a “good chance” of wining the bid.

A FIFA World Cup in Australia would present an “immense commercial opportunity” for FIFA and its commercial partners according to Football Federation Australia (FFA) Chairman, Frank Lowy AC. 

Speaking at the prestigious International Football Arena conference in Kuala Lumpur, Lowy said that world football must make the most of the opportunity offered by the burgeoning growth of Asia.

“Not only is Asia the centre of the future of the world’s economy, but it is also the centre of the future of world football.”

“A FIFA World Cup in the Asian region would secure the future of football in the region as well as give FIFA and its commercial partners the opportunity to generate maximum revenues.”

He said that, with Australia’s strong track record in hosting major events, as well as the quality of its infrastructure and facilities made Australian an obvious choice for a FIFA World Cup.   

Lowy, FFA CEO Ben Buckley, and other members of the Bid team for the 2018-2022 FIFA World Cup will be in Cape Town next week to present Australia’s bid to a global football and media audience.

Sydney has been named as one of 7 international cities to host official FIFA public viewing events for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The FIFA Fan Fest™ will show all matches from next years tournament on giant screens in a safe and secure environment.

The seven international selected to host the events are Berlin, London, Mexico City, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Rome and Sydney. In addition to these, all 9 South African host cities will be hosting similar events. 

In addition to showing football, each site will feature an all-day entertainment program outside the actual broadcast of the matches. 

The final draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals will be held on 4 December 2009. 

15 local and 6 overseas based players have been named by Qantas Young Socceroos Head Coach Jan Versleijen today for the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2009 which will be played in Egypt from 24 September to 16 October.

“We have selected the best available players in this age group based on experience and recent playing history.”

Football Federation Australia (FFA) CEO, Ben Buckley, said that the opportunity of playing in a World Cup is a career-defining moment.

“As well as being an important and substantial tournament in its own right, the FIFA U-20 World Cup is an opportunity for players to gain valuable international experience at the highest level.

The Qantas Young Socceroos will be based in the northern Egyptian city of Port Said during the first phase of the tournament.   The Qantas Young Socceroos have been drawn to meet 2007 runners-up, the Czech Republic, Costa Rica and Brazil in the group stage.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd met with the President of FIFA, Joseph Blatter, at FIFA Headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland today.

The pair met for over an hour along with Football Federation Australia (FFA) Chairman, Frank Lowy AC, as well asFFA CEO, Ben Buckley and FIFA CEO, Jerome Valcke.

Mr Lowy said the Australian delegation received a warm welcome from the FIFA President.

"President Blatter is already well aware off Australia's strong track record in hosting major events"

"It was a very good opportunity for Mr Blatter to hear personally from the Prime Minister of the Governments support for this bid"

Australia's position as part of the Asian Football Confederation and Asia's importance for the future growth of the game were also discussed.

FFA will be required to make a final bid presentation to FIFA in December 2010.