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Football Federation Australia (FFA) Chairman Frank Lowy has stated that the people of Australia are the “secret weapon” of Australia’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup ™ at the official launch held in the Great Hall at Parliament House in Canberra today.

“We believe this bid is realistic and it’s achievable,” he told an audience of politicians, media, past, present and aspiring Socceroos and FFA partners.

Mr Lowy said that hosting the FIFA World Cup™ would be good for football, but also good for Australia.

“Hosting the World Cup would provide Australia with an unparalleled opportunity and give Australia a lasting and living legacy for generations to come.

“On the world stage, there is no event with the same level of global appeal or audience reach as the FIFA World Cup™.

Mr Lowy said that the cumulative global television audience in 2006 was 26.2 billion with the single largest audience group coming from the Asian Football Confederation, of which Australia is a member.

“Asia is on the rise economically, in terms of goods and services and in football,” he said.

“Australia is part of the Asian Football Confederation and is in the Asian time zone.”

But Mr Lowy said that Australia’s “secret weapon” is the Australian people, and Australia as a destination.

“People from all over the world want to visit our country.

“Thanks to the performance of the Qantas Socceroos at the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ in Germany, as well as the many thousands of Australian fans who followed them, the rest of the world has a very positive view of us.”

“Our aim is to show FIFA and the football world that we are passionate about football and welcoming the world.”

FFA also unveiled a promotional film which showcases Australia as a destination, as well as its football and event hosting credentials, encouraging the world to ‘Come Play!’.

The film showcases the Qantas Socceroos as well as a ball travelling around Australia visiting every state and territory showcasing cities, stadia, the outback, wineries and beaches with everyday Australians in a playful mood.

“We have many milestones between today and when the decision is made and we hope that all Australians can join this bid 100 per cent.”

FFA will be required to make a final presentation to FIFA, football’s world governing body, in December 2010 prior to a decision behind made.

“I have the personal commitment of our political leaders to this bid,” said Mr Lowy.

“We have the goodwill and support of other sporting codes around the country.

“And we now invite all Australians to enlist in what we hope will be an exciting and successful campaign to bring the greatest show on earth to the world’s greatest playground.”

Aus2018 and AsianFC.com fully support Australia’s bid to host the FIFA World Cup finals in 2018 and 2022 and urge all readers to do likewise. Join the official website www.australia2018-2022.com.au and urge your friends, family and colleagues to do the same.

The Australian 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup bid will be officially launched today in Canberra.

The launch will commence at approximately 3pm AEST in the Great Hall at Parliament House and is expected to conclude around 1 hour later.

Following a 0-0 draw with Qatar in Doha overnight, Australia has become the second nation to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa.

Speaking from Doha, Football Federation Australia (FFA) CEO, Ben Buckley, said that qualifying for a second consecutive FIFA World Cup was a fantastic achievement.

"It's another first for Australian Football..." 

"Qualifying this time around, with the travel and match conditions the team has experienced, is a true measure of the progress football has made."

The Asian Football Confederation also provided the first nation to qualify. Japan earned it's spot after a 1-0 win over Uzbekistan in Tashkent.

Australia has two more matches in this round of qualification. They play Bahrain in Sydney on Wednesday June 10 and then Japan in Melbourne on Wednesday June 17.

The race to host the 2018 and the 2022 FIFA World Cups™ is still wide open following confirmation that all 13 member associations that had expressed their interest in February to bid for either one or both competitions have sent to FIFA their Bid Registration forms by the established deadline of 16 March.

The member associations that have sent the Bid Registration forms for both competitions are, in alphabetical order: Australia, Belgium and the Netherlands, England, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Spain and Portugal, and the USA. Meanwhile, Korea Republic and Qatar have sent a Bid Registration form for the 2022 FIFA World Cup only.

The next step of the process will come in April, when FIFA will send the Bidding Agreement to these associations. The Bidding Agreement will set forth in detail the agreements and information that must be included in the Bid Book. The deadline for the associations to submit the signed Bidding Agreement to FIFA is 11 December 2009.

Football Federation Australia has announced the appointment of two key members of staff to spearhead the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup bid.

“While we have had a small but dedicated team working on our bid for the past 18 months compiling infrastructure audits, economic impact analysis and working with Federal and State governments on preliminary planning, we now have a timetable to meet for the Bid and a need to establish a fully operational Bid Team.

Stuart Taggart, Head of Major Events, will project manage FFA Bid operations and will have responsibility for technical aspects of the Bid including infrastructure planning, stadia and host city logistics, finance and project management. 

Bonita Mersiades, Head of Corporate and Public Affairs, will be responsible for domestic and international communications, marketing, government relations, corporate social responsibility and stakeholder and community relations.

Additional appointments will be made over the next few months bringing the bid Team to around 12-15 full time staff.