Would FIFA want Australia to host 2015 Asian Cup first?
Roar Guru By Phil, 21 Dec 2008 The Crowd is a Roar Guru
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Much has been said about Australia’s bid for the 2018 World Cup. However, I believe the FFA must learn to crawl before it can walk. That’s why I believe FIFA would want Australia to host an AFC Asian Cup first before giving a World Cup to us.
The benefits of hosting this tournament are:
- The 2015 Asian Cup will be televised to the highest population base in the world, in Asia. The beauty is 16 teams make the finals not like the World Cup with only five Asian teams participating. This will result in big TV numbers.
- The Asian Cup can be held in July or January. It doesn’t take a genius to know that holding it in January would mean no conflict with the other football codes and would have no opposition against it. Watching Football in summer is a whole lot better than watching it in winter, which will also mean more tourists coming to Australia.
- January falls in the International Window, meaning all the best players will be required to be released by club teams.
- The tournament runs for three weeks meaning little disruption to the A-league season.
- You only need between four and six stadiums for such an event, and they don’t have to be 40,000 plus capacity either. hey also do not have to be as updated as World Cup venues have to be. This means less cost in upgrading them.
To cater for a tournament like this you could use from the following list:
Skilled Stadium (Gold Coast) – 27,000
Sydney Football Stadium – 45,000
Sydney Olympic Stadium – 83,000 (used for Opening game, Oz games, and Final)
Melbourne Rectangular Stadium – 31,000
Canberra Stadium – 25,000
Hindmarsh Stadium – Adelaide – 17,000
Members Equity Stadium Perth – 20,000
Energy Australia Stadium – Newcastle – 25,000
Suncorp Stadium – Brisbane – 52,000
Docklands Stadium – Melbourne- 52,000
Dairy Farmers Stadium – Townsville– 25,000
I think if the Australian public embraced this tournament first, FIFA would be less inclined to deny us a World Cup later.
The downside is that we might have to wait to 2026 to get a World Cup.
I am interested to know if people think FIFA would want us to show our football credentials first?
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December 21st 2008 @ 11:06am
Dave said | December 21st 2008 @ 11:06am | Report comment
Phil
IMO Oz should be bidding for the 2015 AC anyway…maybe there will be some sweetner from AFC that OZ needs to bid for 2015 before AFC will support it’s bid(s) for 2018/2022.
The decision for 2018 will be made late 2010.
In terms of Oz running the tournament there should be no logistical problems although running it in Summer would mean a big disruption for Euro clubs who have AFC players. June would probably be more favoured to avoid such an issue.
December 21st 2008 @ 11:14am
Sam said | December 21st 2008 @ 11:14am | Report comment
Phil
I ‘d be a bit worried about the crowds. Teams like Japan, Korea and Iran will attract some crowds. But what about the others? God knows we cop it from supporters of other codes about our crowds on this site
so I would hope we would be able to attract crowds before we proceed. World Cup would be no problem as the best of the best are here.
December 21st 2008 @ 11:16am
Luke W said | December 21st 2008 @ 11:16am | Report comment
I don’t see why Australia should not host the 2015 Asian Cup. We certainly have the facilities to make it a great event and it would provide a great practice run (not taking anything away from the AC) for a potential WC.
December 21st 2008 @ 1:00pm
dasilva said | December 21st 2008 @ 1:00pm | Report comment
I think it will be held in january. It’s distruption ot european cup but so is the african equivalent and the world doesn’t revolve around europe.
December 21st 2008 @ 1:01pm
dasilva said | December 21st 2008 @ 1:01pm | Report comment
If the Asia cup in 2007 was the standard of professionalism expected then I can’t see why wouldn’t Australia shouldn’t be able to breezingly be able to host the competition especially with AFC new push on professionalism
December 21st 2008 @ 1:30pm
Midfielder said | December 21st 2008 @ 1:30pm | Report comment
Imagine 2015 Asia Cup, 2019 Woman’s World Cup, 2022 WC … The Australian sporting landscape would be forever changed
December 21st 2008 @ 5:13pm
Michael C said | December 21st 2008 @ 5:13pm | Report comment
Agreed,
it’d be astounding for Oz to score 2018, and just marginally less so for 2022.
Agreed re doing the 2015 first….
be interesing to see how the crowds for such an event would compare to some of the shockers of the last Asian cup………some of the matches COULD be played at Green Gully ‘stadium’ out a Keilor!!!
December 22nd 2008 @ 9:04am
The Bear said | December 22nd 2008 @ 9:04am | Report comment
I wonder if by NOT going for this tourny we may appear to be snubbing our Asian confed. Perceived arrogance, mind games and politics may be potential land mines IF we appear to be overlooking our immediate backyard.
December 23rd 2008 @ 3:49pm
Chuq said | December 23rd 2008 @ 3:49pm | Report comment
FFA has stated they will be bidding for the 2015AC, but I don’t believe it is a pre-requisite for hosting the 2018/2022WC. Surely the 2000OG and the 2003RWC demonstrate that we are capable. If 2018 goes to Europe, and 2022 does not go to Australia, it will likely go to China – meaning it will be 2026 or 2030 until Australia get’s another look in.
December 23rd 2008 @ 5:21pm
Midfielder said | December 23rd 2008 @ 5:21pm | Report comment
I would love to have the Asian games in Australia … I would considerit an honour … would also help with sponsors and government influence as well … hope FFA can pull it off.