Aussies to step up 2018 World Cup bid

Australian football supremo Frank Lowy is determined to press ahead with a bid to host the 2018 World Cup despite FIFA president Sepp Blatter suggesting the country would be better served bidding for the 2022 tournament.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) chairman Lowy said he was still hopeful despite the fact Europe is virtually assured of getting hosting rights after the abandonment of FIFA’s rotation policy – with England determined to secure the tournament.

“I want to make it clear that we are aiming to host the 2018 World Cup,” he said in Brisbane.

“While I understand that there is a view emanating from Europe that it may well be the turn of Europe to be the hosts in 2018, the fact is football is a world game.

“Europe has unquestionably been the focus of football growth and development for much of the past 80 years, but the future of football is in the ’new world’ - that is, the developing and growing regions of the world such as Asia.”

England, Spain, Russia and a combined bid from Belgium and Holland are expected to be the contenders for 2018, while China and Qatar are also considering a bid, meaning Australia would have to win a run-off before embarking on its bid proper.