Australian football leaders are scaffolding a bid to host the Men's Football World Cup in 2030 or 2034, in the drive to host the women's tournament in 2023, local Olympics and federation officials announced Thursday.
"
I started (to work on a possible candidacy) for 2030 ... I think we have to start,
" said to the newspaper The Australian Rod McGeoch, who had headed the candidacy of the Olympics-2000 of Sydney.
He also assured that discussions in this direction had already taken place between the Australian Federation and public authorities responsible for events.
Australian Federation boss James Johnson believes he can compete again, benefiting from the momentum created by the organization, shared with New Zealand, from the Women's World Cup in 2023 and the Olympic Games in Brisbane in 2032 .
“
We're going to have a big competition in 2023,
” he told The Australian.
"
We have to make the most of it and it could be a stepping stone to other Fifa competitions
."
“
And there is a trend,
” he added.
“
Look at Canada, which hosted the Women's World Cup in 2015 and 11 years later they are going to host the Men's World Cup with the United States (and Mexico).
Look at Brazil: they hosted the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016
”.
Johnson recognizes, however, an obstacle to his project: the 2030 tournament should probably return to Europe or South America since the next one will be held in Qatar, a member like Australia of the Asian Football Confederation, and that of 2026 will be held in North America. But 2034 would be more open for Australia, whose national team have qualified in the last four World Cup finals.
The country had already tried its luck for 2022, but the candidacy, which had cost taxpayers 45 million Australian dollars (28 million euros), had only one vote, against Qatar, controversial winner. Spain and Portugal have already announced a joint bid for the 2030 edition marking the centenary of the competition, and could see competition from the UK / Ireland duo and the Argentina / Chile / Paraguay / Uruguay quartet.
