Comments on: The Malaysian fly in Australia 2018′s ointment

By: AA

AA — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 01:33:43 +0000

A year on from reading this, and Bin Hamman got through.

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 22:38:14 +0000

Yeah, Brian makes a good point. England-USA-Australia is an unlikely progression.

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:46:18 +0000

With China not bidding for 2022 a bid is def worthwhile. Yes 2018 is not feasable but yeah it seems down to USA or Aus for 2022 with outside shots for Japan and Mexico. USA/Aus are similar and the obvious problem is the much more money FIFA would make in US, however Portugal did beat Spain for 2004 so we can always hope. 2026 is not possible because after England and US a third Anglo country would not make sense. Also China/Russia or Spain would bid by then.

I would imagine stadia would be ok by 2022 (MCG 100,000, Swan St 41,000, SFS 45,000, ANZ 83,000, Suncorp 52,000, Energy 40,000, Gold Coast 35,000, Canberra 35,000, Adelaide 55,000 (new), Perth 55,000 (new)) The last two could be built for AFL use after the Cup. Remember 2022 is 13 years away, AAMI stadium is already past is use by date for AFL.

By: Tifosi FC

Tifosi FC — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:42:29 +0000

Well the 2018 World cup is out of the question, i dont think anyone will dispute that.

2022 is a shot though . But i think we will miss out as Australia is too small of a nation in :

a) Commercial opportunity. A world cup in the USA would generate revenues far exceeding what we could ever do.

b) Population. I dont think FIFA cares if football is a major sport in this country at all. Trying to get 300 million americans on board is worth it. 1 Billion Chinese is worth it, 20 million Australians?, not so much. A world cup also hasn’t been hosted in a country with such a small population since Chile in 1962.

c) Stadia suitable for football . Unfortunately True Tah, 40 million would be lucky to buy you a few seats for stadium nowadays. new Stadia are all 100 million plus projects.

Australia’s best shot is really 2026. If Europe gets 2018 and USA 2022 ( Which i think is certain to happen) Asia is likely to get 2026, problem with that though is that China would be favored to win it.

By: dasilva

dasilva — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:12:02 +0000

equal second favorites I mean

By: True Tah

True Tah — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:11:50 +0000

Spiro

I do think Australia will host the FIFA WC before 2050, however the odds are against us for 2018 or even 2022.

I personally think the $40m would be well spent developing top class stadiums in Perth, Adelaide and Newcastle – stadiums which will be used when we win the hosting rights.

By: dasilva

dasilva — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:10:55 +0000

Spiro
one world cup is going to europe (most likely 2018), the other is going to another continent

According to odds australia are 5-1 to win the world cup bid. England are favorites and Australia are equal favorites with Spain/portugal

either australia, USA, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, Qatar, Mexico

none of these countries are that intimidating considering japan and korea host it recently in 2002. Mexico has hosted the world cup 2 times and would host it unprecedented 3 times if they win the bid and qatar and indonesia bid are a joke. this leaves Australia and USA as IMO the only serious contenders for the 2022 world cup.

I also don’t buy this Australia are naive bystanders with no experience in politics as that’s just lazy stereotyping. As I recall we were quite devious and smart in winning the olympics. Lowy is not a novice to get where he has. We also hired people who handled the germany bid in 2006 to assist with our bidding process. this is not a waste of money.

By: Spiro Zavos

Spiro Zavos — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 07:55:52 +0000

That jersey present to PM Kevin Rudd is turing out to be a $40 million sham for the Australian tax payer. Does anyone seriously believe that Australia will host a football World Cup before 2050? I’ll believe that Australia has a chance before that when Frank Lowy put up many millions of his own money towards this folly.
Jesse has brilliantly exposed the snake pit which is the politics of world football. Australia does not have the football weight or tradition or money to have any impact in this arena, except to be as a rather naive bystander.
We are innocents abroad when it comes to this politicking. Why not pull out now and save us all a great dollops of money.

By: The Bear

The Bear — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 06:28:24 +0000

here, here,…

HERE.

By: md

md — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 03:35:26 +0000

On the point of world cup voting ,the AFC – along with the Africans and Americans (north and south) need to stand up to UEFA’s demand that the WC return to Europe every 3 cups – that is a neocolonialist and insulting demand completely out of step with modern global politics. Indeed, the other confederations should make a point of ensuring that 2018 goes to Asia simply to remind UEFA and its cronies in FIFA that the world cup is just that, and not a relic of 19th century geo-politics to be loaned out to the rest of the world as a gesture of good will.

Cheers
md

By: Pippinu

Pippinu — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 03:28:41 +0000

md
heh, heh – you read me like a book!!

By: md

md — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 03:26:26 +0000

Pippinu. Bugger that. It doesn’t auger well for my bet with you!!!
Cheers
md.

By: The Bear

The Bear — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:36:07 +0000

LOL.

In all seriousness the AFC may never be the same again. Our country’s involvement (and FIFA’s) in World football may alter the course of events yet to be imagined, as Albert has mused above.

To be honest, and I am not proud of this, but I am bit surprised Malaysia has so much historical clout in the confederation. Geographically it makes some sense, I guess, especially with Australia’s inclusion in “Asia”.

The bottom line is that if Asia wants recognition, on the WC hosting front, it will back Australia for 2018. For 2022 it may be murkier for 2022, yet I believe we have the best chance of all competing Asian countries.

By: Albert Ross

Albert Ross — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:48:57 +0000

We were never going to get 2018 were we? Yerp wouldsurely have first dibs given that they so graciously gave up their buggin’s turn in 2014 for Brazil.

2022 is a possibility but surely the USA bid would have some allure for FIFA.

All this strife in the AFC might have some interesting outcomes. One plausible scenario is for FIFA to shunt East Asia and the ME to their own “desert” zone with 1.5 WC spots and set up a Pacific zone with West Asia, USA and Canada and the rump of Oceania. Mexico and the rest of the CONCACAF could join CONMEBOL and become their problem child if only to distract them from their path to world domination by having mostly high class matches in their fixture lists.

Outfits like Malaysia could be offered a “once only” chance to do a Kazakhstan and decamp to their mates in the Desert zone. If they do it will be a relief to all as the Malaysians have this idea that the world rotates around the Petronas towers. Alternatively Michael C and Pip could be offered a deal whereby they go to Malaysia to introduce them to the one true sporting faith.

By: Kazama

Kazama — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:05:25 +0000

Cheers Jesse, great article. How this all plays out will have a big impact on Australia’s footballing future IMO, especially if Khalifa wins and he doesn’t care for us or our plans. I have problems with some of MbH’s decisions and demands but at least he is happy to have us around and to be bidding for a World Cup; of course, so long as we are marching to his beat.

The machinations at the top levels of Asian football are like a political thriller come to life. It’s unfortunate that we are involved in them now and that the outcomes will directly affect us.

By: Pippinu

Pippinu — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 22:51:31 +0000

Good article.

Whichever way you slice or dice it, it doesn’t augur well for Australia.