World Cup 2018 Australia

[Félix]

I list potential stadiums of countries who want to organize the FIFA World 2018. FIFA has not decided in which continent this world cup will be organized.

Australia (Asia)

Melbourne Cricket Ground (Melbourne - approx. capacity 100,000)

Telstra Stadium (Sydney - 83,500)

Telstra Dome (Melbourne - 56,347)

AAMI Stadium (Adelaide - 51,515)

Suncorp Stadium (Brisbane - 52,579)

Subiaco Oval (Perth - 42,922)

EnergyAustralia Stadium (Newcastle - 26,126)

Dairy Farmers Stadium (Townsville - 24,843)

Canberra Stadium (Canberra - 24,647)

Aurora Stadium (Launceston - 23,000)

Central Coast Stadium (Gosford - 20,119)

WIN Stadium (Wollongong - 18,484)

Skilled Park under construction (Gold Coast - 25,000)

some stadiums need to be extanded to 40,000 seats minimum

[Sir Rols]

Isn't this about the fourth thread on exactly this topic.

[dave199]

Check through the other threads. There's a very large one concerning a possible Australia WC

[Sir Rols]

Well, it looks like the Oz bid will go official this week, with PM Rudd giving it his endoresement on the weekend:

SYDNEY, Feb 24, 2008 (AFP) - The Australian Government said Sunday it will formally support the country's bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup, with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd leading the tilt for football's premier event.

Rudd said it will be a Herculean task for Football Federation Australia to win the right to host the 2018 event against rival bids from Mexico, USA, England, Spain/Portugal, The Netherlands/Belgium, Russia, China and Japan.

``For an Australian World Cup bid to be successful the FFA will need the full and united support of the commonwealth and state and territory governments,'' Rudd said in a statement.

Australia's premier promised to put the bid on the agenda for next month's Council of Australian Governments meeting of federal, state and territory leaders.

``As the host country for the 2018 FIFA World Cup is likely to be announced in 2011, the government is keen to see Australia's bid kick off as soon as possible,'' he said.

``Representatives of the FFA will meet with senior Australian government officials in the next week to begin planning the bid.''

The cost of vying for the event will be shared between the federal, state and territory governments and the FFA, he said.

FFA Chairman Frank Lowy welcomed the Prime Minister's commitment to support the FFA's 2018 tilt, saying recent changes to FIFA's rotation policy for awarding of the World Cup gave Australia the opportunity to submit a bid which would not previously have been possible.

``Key to our success in bringing these significant events to Australia is that it is a 'whole of Australia' bid and that it has the explicit support of all Australian governments,'' Lowy said in a statement.

Lowy said the impact of hosting the World Cup would be both very beneficial to Australia and of historic importance in framing Australia's place in the world.

``Apart from the benefits for the sport, there are also significant benefits for the nation in terms of economic impact, international prestige and contribution to nation building and social inclusion,'' he said.

Accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers has been commissioned by FFA to undertake an audit of Australia's stadiums, accommodation, public transport, training facilities and other infrastructure with the findings expected in May.

Lowy has met with Rudd since the Labor government's national election victory last November, a spokesman said, to lobby him on the merits of hosting the World Cup, arguing it would help improve relations with Asian countries.

``In the same way Australia has developed a relationship with all levels of India by virtue of our common cricket interests, soccer -- which is the huge sport in every Asian country -- is an entree to promoting Australia's interests around the world,'' the spokesman for Lowy added.

FIFA president Joseph Blatter confirmed this month the 2018 hosts will be announced in April or May 2011.

The 2010 World Cup will be staged in South Africa while Brazil will host the 2014 event.

[Sir Rols]

And now for the reality check:

Vote buying World Cup's dark reality

COMMENT: Ray Gatt | February 25, 2008

PRIME MINISTER Kevin Rudd thought dealing with John Howard and the Liberal Party machine in the federal election was like going into war.

But it will be nothing more than a tea party compared to having to deal with one of the most powerful organisations in the world: soccer's governing body, FIFA.

Rudd announced yesterday the federal Government would support Football Federation Australia's bid to host the 2018 World Cup finals, putting it in direct competition with England, the United States, Russia, China and Mexico.

It's an ambitious and expensive plan, with even Rudd admitting it will be tough to win.

England has committed as much as $35million to ensure the finals return to the home of football for the first time since 1966 and heaven knows how much the US and Russia are prepared to spend.

It's also a huge gesture and a wonderful commitment to a code that has finally captured the imagination of Australia's sporting mainstream.

But it's not clear if Rudd knows what he is letting himself in for, because the Government is tackling a political beast like no other.

FIFA is a law unto itself, an organisation with an annual business revenue close to $US900million ($975m), which understandably gives it serious clout in anyone's language.

If Rudd wants an idea of just what we are dealing with, he should read brilliant British investigative journalist Andrew Jennings' extraordinary 2006 book, Foul, which has been described as a "superb insight into the secret world of FIFA bribes, vote rigging and ticket scandals".

Australia will need to know how to play, and ultimately overcome, the political game that is a World Cup bidding process to have even a snowflake's hope in hell of challenging England, China and the US.

Australian soccer is lucky enough to have Westfield boss and FFA chairman Frank Lowy who, in the space of four years, has almost single-handedly changed the face of the game in this country.

But even Lowy, Australia's third-richest man and a hugely influential figure in his own right, is but a minnow in FIFA's eyes.

Clearly, Australia faces an uphill job to convince FIFA it should host the World Cup finals even though the country boasts a number of high-class venues and showed the world what it can do when it staged the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

To win the battle, the Government and FFA will have to overcome:

* Sponsorship and television rights holders' concerns about the time difference. A World Cup game starting at 3pm in Sydney would be on TV in the UK at 4am and Europe at 5am. A game at 7pm would have to be shown in Europe at 9am;

* The FIFA cliques and voting blocs involved in the "you scratch my back and I'll scratch your back" bidding culture;

* The view that Australia, despite the remarkable achievement of the Socceroos at the World Cup finals in Germany in 2006, is a backwater of world football;

* Likely opposition from within its own backyard, notably from the Asian Football Confederation.

Rest assured, the TV rights holders will not be afraid to exert enormous pressure on FIFA because of the hundreds of millions of dollars they will pay to show the tournament.

The World Cup finals in Germany in 2006 drew a cumulative television audience of 26billion. It's about ratings and getting advertising dollars. They don't want to be broadcasting games at unfriendly hours.

Having relented once when FIFA gave the 2002 World Cup hosting rights to Japan and South Korea, television is unlikely to cave in so easily again.

However, the voting issue remains the biggest and most complicated hurdle for Australia.

As we saw when Germany beat South Africa, regarded as the hot favourite, in the bidding process for 2006, it can get very ugly and messy.

Former Oceania Football Confederation boss Charlie Dempsey was at the centre of the controversy. Even though the OFC, of which Australia was a member at the time, had agreed to give South Africa its vote, New Zealander Dempsey inexplicably abstained from voting, thus ensuring Germany won the bid.

With FFA only recently admitted to the Asian Football Confederation, there is certain to be jealousy and opposition from other countries in the region. They would believe that Australia should stand in line behind them and should not be given preferential treatment.

Lowy said yesterday FFA had the full blessing of the AFC, but admitted that could change depending on how many and which countries from the region decide to enter the race.

"Then it would come down to a vote at AFC level (to determine Asia's candidate,)" he said.

Importantly, Europe and South America hold the balance of power in FIFA. If it was up to those regions, the World Cup would be held alternately between them.

By the time the 2018 World Cup rolls around, the finals will have been held in the southern hemisphere countries of South Africa (2010) and Brazil (2014).

If Europe missed out on 2018, it would mean it would not have hosted the sport's biggest event for three cycles.

Another important issue Australian authorities will have to consider is the fact the World Cup is played in June and July, in the middle of the AFL, NRL and rugby union seasons.

Under FIFA rules, all grounds have to be handed over to it at least a month before the opening match of the finals to ensure proper signage and they are in pristine condition.

What to do, then, with the other football codes before and during the finals?

While it is easy to build a case against Australia, it would be wrong to completely write it off.

The 1956 and 2000 Olympics, the Rugby World Cup and any number of Commonwealth Games proves the country can handle the big events.

If Australia loses the bid, the worst thing that can come out of this is the country will get more high-class stadiums.

The Australian

[james]

Melbourne has over 100,000 seaters capacity! WOW! that's a superstadium. How modern is the stadium? What's the population of the city as a whole?

[Faster]

Melbourne has over 100,000 seaters capacity! WOW! that's a superstadium. How modern is the stadium? What's the population of the city as a whole?

All things you can look up on wikipedia, so stop bugging us for answers.

[Citius Altius Fortius]

I just can say: AUSTRALIA GO FOR 2018 - no matter what!!!

[james]

All things you can look up on wikipedia, so stop bugging us for answers.

Sorry! Wekipedia never said how modern regarding facilities provided in the stadium but mostly on history.

[jim jones]

All things you can look up on wikipedia, so stop bugging us for answers.

Well James Melbourne Cricket Grounds had a 700 million AU dollar redevelopment for the 2006 commonwealth games . The stadium was the main athletics stadium for the 1956 Summer Olympics. May 2006 Greece played Australia for a Soccer Game that drew a sold out audience of 95,103 . It is listed as 100,000 capacity.

Melbourne Cricket Grounds had a 18 million dollar temporary athletics surface and infield for the commonwealth games which was removed and landfilled right after the games.

Jim Jones.

[jim jones]

I have read that the main Asian Fifa officials are in favor of Australia's bid for 2018 and would like to see a Lone Bid from Asian Football Confederation. Even though Australia is in that Confederation you could still consider Australia in Oceania, the only region not to host the world cup. Australia's history in sports hosting certainly Help their chances. I can never see New Zealand or any other oceanic nation hosting the WC. The value of Asian TV and Soccer Interest there could be another factor that will help especially if the Asian Football Confederationindeed takes the stance of forwarding Australia as their lone Candidate. With South Africa 2010 and Brazil in 2014 having good game times for Europe and America for two World Cups an Asian Time Zone World Cup in 2018 would make sense. My feeling is that it will go back to Europe and most likely the UK.

China or Russia would certainly be very strong as would be America. The head of the US Soccer has recently stated that the United States has 50 stadiums to Fifa Specs with all American Football stadium Developed since WC 1994 to be able to have FIFA Soccer. That is 50 stadiums without the use of one single stadium from the WC 1994 being used in 2018.

Hey on another Note James , Jack Warner Heaped huge phrase on Abuja National Stadium after his inspection the other day. OF course hey Jack Warner or Sepp Blatter don't have a problem with Nigeria or Africa. Much has to be done to the other 5 stadiums but Nigeria will rise to the occasion for U17 2009. Warner's words of the Shell/ Chervon owned hospital in Warri, Delta was something . "better then most hospitals in last years U20 host Canada"

jim jones

[Faster]

Warner and Blatter are both incompetent and highly corrupt individuals that will be lucky to still be on the board in 2012 when 2018 is decided.

[Rob2012]

I'm sure they have their ways

[baron-pierreIV]

so when and where is FIFA moving its headquarters to a southern hemisphere city?

[FYI]

There's just no way that the WC is going to land, for a 3rd consecutive time, outside of Europe (1 of the 2 soccer power continents). It's virtually inevitable that Europe shall land 2018, with the U.K. & Russia being the top 2 Euro-competitors. China, Australia & even the U.S. would simply be wasting their time & money on a 2018 bid (but hey, it's their time & money & FIFA wouldn't hold any objections). Kinda like any European city bidding for the 2016 Olympics would be doing the same wasting their strong efforts.

[Rob2012]

I wouldn't agree with that.

China has a great chance and you can't discount the US. Australia seems less likely though imho.

[arwebb]

I'd still be reluctant to rule Australia out. They have a better track record than several other apparently stronger contenders.

[Sir Rols]

I tend to agree that it's predestined to be Europe (probably England) for 2018. I've always thought Australia's best chance would be 2022.

[Faster]

I think Australia is building for a 2022 bid.

China has a terrible team and though having the stadiums, they won't provide nearly the same atmosphere of a European, Australian or American WC.

[Rob2012]

I agree Faster, but will FIFA see that or will they see a potential new market consisting of 1/5 of the world's population instead. Hmmm......

[Faster]

FIFA was really concerned about home performance in 2002. FIFA is a lot more concerned with home team performance than others.

[Lord David]

I think Australia is building for a 2022 bid.

China has a terrible team and though having the stadiums, they won't provide nearly the same atmosphere of a European, Australian or American WC.

Definitely so. What would it be like? 10 oval stadiums with athletics tracks? With 1 rectangular stadium?

An Australian WC would definitely have a great atmosphere, even if we say 4 to 6 of the stadiums are oval based.

[Faster]

Australia's best attribute in my opinion is that they have the stadiums, but they only have to use 8. Less is more and to concnetrate the world cup in 8 cities would be far more agreeable then a Chinese bid where the venues will be spread out and in a country that would be hard for the massive amount of football fans to get into. Going from Gangzhou to Beijing for a team would be a lot harder than going from Sydney to Adelaide. Also I think Beijing 2008 is a determint to any future bid because FIFA will know more about the problems the IOC is having with China, tickets and press just being the tip of the iceberg.

[Sir Rols]

Australia's best attribute in my opinion is that they have the stadiums, but they only have to use 8. Less is more and to concnetrate the world cup in 8 cities would be far more agreeable then a Chinese bid where the venues will be spread out and in a country that would be hard for the massive amount of football fans to get into. Going from Gangzhou to Beijing for a team would be a lot harder than going from Sydney to Adelaide. Also I think Beijing 2008 is a determint to any future bid because FIFA will know more about the problems the IOC is having with China, tickets and press just being the tip of the iceberg.

I think I mentioned it before, but doing the 2026 fantasy bid for Oz I came to the realisation that a bid by Oz would be able to be concentrated on the three eastern States and Canberra _ It would be very achiebale, maybe even responsible, to have the venues as: Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney, Newcastle, Gosford, Canberra, Brisbane, Gold Coast.

Politically, that would be impossible, though. The other States wouldn't stand for it.

[Citius Altius Fortius]

I really wish that Australia bids for the WC2018 - I think it would be a fantastic host and it would broaden the horizon of the football world!!