Government officials and Football Australia are beginning to work through plans to bid for either the 2030 or 2034 men’s football World Cup according to The Australian.
It is believed to be part of a strategy to bring a host of major events to Australia both prior to and post the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.
The decision comes roughly a decade after the last attempt to secure the men’s World Cup in 2022 - a bid that attracted just one vote and a process that raised eyebrows after Qatar was controversially awarded the tournament.
Australia’s claims for the world’s premier sporting event are sure to be bolstered by FIFA’s decision to send the 2023 women’s World Cup down under to Australia and New Zealand.
Hosting a successful tournament in 2023 would certainly put Australia in much better contention than the last bid which fell flat on its face.
Canada have shown that hosting a women’s World Cup can result in landing the men’s. After staging a successful tournament in 2015, Canada put in a joint bid with the United States and Mexico to become hosts of the 2026 men’s World Cup.
FA chief executive James Johnson is of the belief that hosting a successful 2023 women’s World Cup will lead to more opportunities.
“We’ll host a great competition in 2023 – we’re going to wrap a legacy around it for the game, but we’ve got to squeeze more juice out of this and it could be a stepping stone with a successful delivery of that toward more FIFA competitions,” Johnson said.
“And there’s a trend. Look at Canada, which hosted the women’s World Cup in 2015 and 11 years later they’re going to host the men’s World Cup with the US (and Mexico). Look at Brazil – they hosted the World Cup in 2014 and Olympics in 2016.”
It is believed Australia will have a better shot at hosting the 2034 World Cup as Europe is favoured to claim the 2030 edition after stints in the Middle East and North America in the lead-up.
Other Asian Football Confederation nations China and Saudi Arabia are also expected to submit bids for the 2034 World Cup.
The wheels are already in motion as FA and state-based major events officials begin discussions on a bid process.
Former Sydney 2000 Olympics bid chief Rod McGeoch, now a director of Destination NSW, confirmed he has begun work on a bid.
“I have started (working on a possible bid) for 2030 … I feel we have got to start,” Mr McGeoch said.
“We are quietly working away and with the women’s World Cup in 2023, that is a big opportunity for us (as) FIFA will have an office in (Sydney).”
The planning comes at a time where Australia is riding on the highs of the Matildas and the success of former Socceroos boss Ange Postecoglou in Europe.
Johnson believes that the FA is in a better position than it was for the ill-fated 2022 World Cup bid.
“You have to make sure you put the best bid in and make sure you’re the best advocate,” he said.
"We probably have more clout now than we’ve had in a long time.”