Australia's bid for the World Cup 2018 or 2022

Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy has unleashed a two-pronged attack in a bold and brazen bid to bring the World Cup to our shores.

Australia is one of 11 countries bidding for the 2018 or 2022 World Cups.

But while Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek persists with his preferred one-striker formation, attack-minded Lowy has garnered the unqualified support of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull in his determined quest to bring the greatest show on earth to Australia.

“Mr Rudd and Mr Turnbull represent the country,” Lowy said later.

“Mr Verbeek is doing a magnificent job (with one striker). But this is a different game. We need two strikers.

“I am confident that we can pull it off. We are in it to win it.”

Rudd and Turnbull both gave their unqualified support to Australia’s bid that became official at a slick launch at Parliament House that brought together a who’s who of Aussie football past and present.

The Great Hall was converted into a “football stadium” for the occasion with surrounding screens showing several stirring promotional videos and the official launch film.

“What a great day for Australian football that we as a people and a nation have the audacity to bid to host the greatest (sporting) event on earth,” Rudd said.

“When the world looks at us from now until the FIFA decision (on who will stage the World Cups) is made late next year we want to show that we are in it as one behind this great national bid.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity for Australia. The 2006 World Cup had an accumulative television audience of 26 billion. The rugby World Cup in 2003 here in Australia had an audience of something like 3.2 billion.

“We stand to gain $5 billion from a World Cup in Australia. This is not something to be sneezed at.”

Turnbull, speaking earlier, expressed the same sentiments.

“It is not often that the prime minister and I agree on something as big as this,” Turnbull said.

“But on this occasion the bid will have the total and unequivocal support of both sides of politics.

“Regardless of which side of the House of Representatives we are sitting on I give this commitment that the Coalition will line up with the Labour Party side by side to bring the world’s greatest game, the world game, to Australia.”

Lowy told the gathering that included many past Socceroos players and coaches that the benefits of Australia staging a World Cup were threefold.

“Firstly, it is my passion to see football grow and prosper in this country,” he said.

“A World Cup here would take the game to the next level. We would have more players and more spectators.

“Secondly, a World Cup would open the doors to friendships that will last a lifetime.

“Football would bring us much closer to the countries of our region. Asia is the fastest growing region in the world, both economically and in football.

“Thirdly, the tournament will provide much needed infrastructure and jobs. Any major sporting event we have hosted in the last 50 or 60 years has left an indelible mark on our country.”

Two speakers at the launch were Socceroos defender and captain Lucas Neill and goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

The two stars jetted in to Canberra for the launch and went straight back to Melbourne to rejoin the national squad that is preparing for its final 2010 World Cup qualifier against Japan on Wednesday night.

Both players later said they never thought they could live to see the day in which Australia launched a bid to host the game’s blue riband event.

“When you think about it, 10 years ago we were just hoping and dreaming of one day playing in a World Cup,” Neill said.

“Hopefully I’ll play in my second World Cup next year and all of a sudden we’re now talking about hosting a World Cup. It’s an amazing feeling.”

Schwarzer was also gobsmacked by the significance of a truly extraordinary day.

“I never thought this would happen, not in my playing career, that’s for sure,” Schwarzer said.

“That’s why I had no hesitation in accepting an offer to get involved in the bid. I wanted to part of this.”

Australia has until May 2010 to present its Bid Book. FIFA will choose the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in December 2010.

The countries bidding for 2018 are Australia, England, Russia, Belgium/Netherlands, Spain/Portugal, Japan, Indonesia, Mexico and United States. Qatar and Korea Republic are bidding only for 2022.

This is great news! What are your thoughts?? Should Adelaide build a rectangular stadium at Victoria Park?