Australia drops out of race for 2018 World Cup 11/06/2010 |
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Australia has announced it will concentrate on winning the right to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup after withdrawing from the race to hold the 2018 tournament.
The move leaves the United States as the only non-European country hoping to win the bid for 2018 with England and Russia still in the contest along with joint bids from Holland and Belgium as well as Spain and Portugal.
"It became apparent that there was a growing movement to stage the 2018 World Cup in Europe," said FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke.
"The FFA [Football Federation Australia] has displayed an exemplary level of solidarity with Europe and the European bidding nations.
"Their announcement, therefore, to henceforth focus solely on bidding for the 2022 Fifa World Cup is a welcome gesture that is much appreciated by Fifa's leadership and executive committee. We wish to thank the FFA and the Australian Government."
Frank Lowy, chairman of the FFA, confirmed the decision to concentrate on 2022, again suggesting that the tournament will head to Europe in 2018.
"We have been in discussion with Fifa for months and it is that trusting relationship with the leadership of the governing body that has caused us to focus on 2022 and decide to leave the field for 2018 to European contenders," he said.
Australia will now contest the right to hold the competition in 12 years time with Japan, Qatar and South Korea all set to battle it out along with those countries which miss out on the 2018 tournament.
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