US deals blow to our World Cup bid

The 1994 World Cup was well attended as we all know, stadiums were at capacity. In Germany 2006, stadiums were also at capacity although they were smaller in size - similar to sizes that Australia would present. Crowds of between 65K and 88K watched Man Utd and the FIFA All-Stars in Australia in 1999, figures that stack up against the boutique matches farmed out the MLS this summer. That's all swings and roundabouts. Comparing average crowds; The 15 team MLS is into it's 16th year are at 15.7K for 2009, and pound for pound the 10 team A-League entering V5 - are to date averaging 12.8K and shows potential to go more towards the average crowds in the US. I'm fortunate to see outside views of this sitting as an expatriate in Asia. American expatriates here, on average, don't care and/or actively dislike football. Straw polling indicates that they did not even remember/rate the '94 WC despite it's attendance success, and the US teams great run during the 2009 Confed Cup was not supported per the usual preference to NASCAR, NBA, MLB, NFL & College Sports which are all broadcast on cable. Look to Asia and it's the opposite. Liverpool & Utd played to packed houses in South East Asia. European summer tours are common against J-League teams. There are dedicated fan bars for the top EPL teams in South East Asia, and the European WC matches are followed religiously. The timezone is the winner for our bid. I've got a Come Play bumper sticker in my office, which has over and over generated enthusiasm amongst Asian round-ball followers. They all remember the party that was Japan/Korea and realise that matches would all be in the Asian afternoon during their Northern Hemisphere/Asian summer.

As well as the Asian connection which is stronger every year It's Fifas chance to spread the game to a continent where Football is not the number one code ( NZ and the Pacific islands would also benefit from a nearby WCup) It would be the final Continent claimed and would mean the Fifa world cup has been played on all 6 continents. Something the olympics hasn't been able to do.

A large part (possibly the largest) of our world cup bid strategy or 'angle' if you like, is the benefit that hosting the WC would have for football development in Asia. If Australia doesnt 'connect' with Asia, then apart from the benefit of time zone for TV audiences, what else is there? Where is the compelling argument to hand us the hosting rights?

Phutbol, I expect that Asia would still watch it even if they felt that Australia was only on the far reaches of asia (as are the middle eastern countries) and the same argument could be made of other countries in concacaf, do they want the US to get it again?

By 2018/2022 when a lot of ACL sides have played there and we have participated in even more international qualifiers at all age levels it will feel like more like an Asian world cup. But It's not so much that the World cup is "in" asia it's the fact Australia is in the east asian time zone, for TV purposes that is important. Since the Kuwaitis wanted us kicked out when we knocked them out of the Asian Cup Qualifying I ahven’t heard much discontent. I think some Thais were unhappy when they realized we wouldn’t be push overs and it has decreased there chance of qualifying. But I have seen articles from Singapore, Japan and Iran which seem to treat us as part of the confederation now.

A question to the people saying that a WC in oz is good for Asia etc. Can anyone say for sure that the rest of Asia would actually embrace a WC held here as being 'in Asia'? Not to be a killjoy or anything but do Asian people actually consider Australia a part of Asia (AFC classification notwithstanding)? If we cant absolutely say yes to the questions above, and I'm not sure we can, then our chance of knocking the likes of the USA over are pretty much nil I would suggest.

43,357

what was the crowd figure for the Victory vs Juventus game last season??

"Australia had the pleasure of playing host to Wolverhampton and Fulham and Celtic, played in front of some very average crowds" Well, you'll get average crowds for average teams. I think the Australian football public is savvy enough. Get AC Milan, Inter and Chelsea out here, and I think the crowds will be comparable ....

What progress? So far he has hardly delivered on the hype, and in recent work trips to the US its already easy to see the disappointment...

Haha, yeah maybe Australia should be talking up the risk of another redneck republican getting voted in in 2012 and undoing all of Obamas progress. Chances are that by 2022 everyone will hate the US again!

They are allready receiving their "summer of soccer" surely the advantage of growing a new market (that conveniently is in the east asian time zone for TV) by having a world cup in Australia would appeal more to FIfa. Plus Obama won't be arround when the world cup is actually played in America, all that lovey dovey feel good politics will have evaporated as Laura Bush is ellected.

no mention of the China wanting Australia representing an AFC WC - China also is not in the bidding process for either '18 or '22. My comments are highlighting the HUGE potential for football commercialism in such a market by 2022, reinforce it with a WC in the AFC region through an Australian bid.

I love football as a game more that I love the Socceroos (and that's saying something). So despite how thrilled I'd be at one level at having a WC on these shores, if its at the expense of the next step in the 15x bigger in population - and probably far more times bigger than that in money - of the USA's footballing journey then hand me a ticket across the pacific thanks very much, I'll take the American option anytime.

"We are getting receptivity in Philadelphia and in other markets". Is 'receptivity' really a word? What's wrong with 'traction' or possibly 'we're making progress in Philadelphia and other markets'. Every day i sit in meetings where some Yank introduces a ridiculous made-up word, or turns a noun into an adjective or some other crime against the English language and then sits there all smug as if he or she has just made some substantial contribution to the sum of human knowledge.

Crowds don't even come into the equation - there's close to enough demand from international ticket sales alone to sell out the WC from travelling supporters alone. WC games will sell out regardless of who the host is. An extra 30,000 people per game over 40-ish games at $200 per ticket is $240m. How much do you think TV rights go for? Keep in mind: - the combined population of the Americas is closer to half than all of the population of China alone, ignoring big developed countries like Japan and Korea as well as the hundreds of millions that live in Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia ..... and that's just countries plus-minus a couple of hours of the Australian time-zones. - FIFA execs and their mates in Europe can switch on the TV at lunchtime to watch an 8pm Sydney kick-off but would have to wake up at 2am to see an 8pm NY kick-off. For which time-slot are European stations likely to pay more for? If you think crowds and $$$ is a reason for the WC going to USA I'd suggest that TV rights and $$$ is a much better reason for the WC going to Australia.

The USA averaged 68,000 plus per game x 64 games for the 1994 version (a record) and with bigger stadiums having been built since would average 70,000-80,000 per game next time. Australia cant compete with that but as pointed out by Davos it will come down to the confederations Asia v Americas. Mehico twice and USA have held it 3 yimes since 1970 with Asia just the once in 2002. As the decision needs to be made by Dec 2010 l think China are out of it and the 2022 version will come down to USA v Oz (England or Spain in 2018). If FIFA are looking to spread the gospel has to be Oz with the TV friendly times for Asia. Still a lot of water to pass under the bridge but dont count out Oz yet, IMO still in with an excellent chance.

i'm still holding out that aus could win the rights, it's certainly far from a forgone conclusion that we'll miss out. but momentum is definitely building for the usa, and re: concacaf-v-afc, i'm sure a few fifa executive members are considering awarding 2022 to usa and anticipating a chinese bid for 2026. but as has been said by others, never underestimate the power of the frank. you never know your luck in the big city.

You reckon China wants Australia representing an AFC WC, no way. They just pulled off the Olympics and could host a WC on their own.

As world football has 2 growth area asia and north america. As the USA is pretty self funding I can see the attraction to the US bid. Asia is still going to require a $$$$ leg up to get the comps a better quality. We still could be in with a sniff but Australia is no Sepp Blatter fan.