World Cup coming to NZ's doorstep
Fifa likes Aussie bid
By DUNCAN JOHNSTONE - Stuff.co.nz
New Zealand Football must be sincere about its plans to use their latest windfall wisely because the greatest show on earth could be heading this way with Australia's claims to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022 gaining momentum.
The All Whites have qualified for next year's finals in South Africa, meaning a cash bonus of $10m to $13m.
Coach Ricki Herbert says the money must be used wisely for the development of the game to ensure there is no 27-year qualifying gap that he has endured as a 1982 player and now the man in the charge of the latest success.
He believes New Zealand needs to make sure they get into a position to make World Cup qualification a regular occurrence.
New Zealand needs to get into a position to maximise the big thinking of neighbours Australia who want to back up their successful hosting of the 2000 Olympics by pushing for World Cup rights.
That would place the spectacular tournament right on New Zealand's doorstep.
With footballing superpower Brazil hosting the 2014 World Cup it seems Australia is deadly serious about going for the rights for the next tournament.
Trinidad and Tobago's heavyweight administrator Jack Warner, a Fifa executive committee member since 1983, said Australia has an "excellent chance" of hosting a World Cup and said its location Down Under wouldn't be a hindrance.
"God created the world round for a reason: distance is relative to where you stand," Warner said in Nigeria where the under-17 World Cup is being played.
"And the Australian continent is nearer to two-thirds of the world's population than most other places. So what's the fuss?"
Warner was speaking at an Australian High Commission function in the Nigerian capital Abuja and his thoughts were reproduced in a statement by Football Federation Australia.
"Australia created the best-ever Olympics and demonstrated an ability to host and manage some of the biggest sporting events in the world with class, expertise and with a dedication to excellence.
"If there is a country that truly deserves to host the FIFA World Cup, then it is the island continent of Australia."
"Australia is known to be a sporting nation and a country of happy and warm-hearted people.
"If you ask me, Australia has an excellent chance of succeeding with its bid. I am impressed with what I see and I know that many of my colleagues are as well."
A World Cup in Australia would provide New Zealand with massive opportunities.
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The African, Asian and Oceania confederations would almost certainly vote for Australia to host the event. The nations of these confederations understand how important this would be for development of football in this part of the world, and also in respective developing countries.
How about going one better and hosting a pool in Wellington?
Brasil have it in 2014 so that will mean that europe will get the next 1. My bet is England with Russia an out side bet. That leaves Australia in number 1 spot for 2022.
Cant we do a co-host arrangement? Japan and Korea did it, I understand that Spain/Portugal and Holland/Belgium are working together for future world cup bids. If all these pairs of countries with past wars/colonisation history can pull it off, how about best mates Australia and NZ?
We wouldnt need much- maybe just play host to one group . This way New Zealand can get a taste of the FIFA world cup, and FIFA get to say it's been hosted in every confederation. As a bonus the All whites get automatic qualification- tee hee.
Any chance Australia would consider a joint Asia/Oceania bid? The two country hosting precedent was set in 2002 with Japan/South Korea. I reckon we'd be happy with one pool, two round of 16 matches and a quarter-final. Nine World Cup matches on NZ soil would be amazing! The benefit for Australia would be the sharing of the pressure on infastructure (stadiums etc). In Japan/Korea in 02 20 stadiums were used - Germany 06, 12 stadiums. Australia will struggle to find that number of FIFA grand grounds and I'm sure Eden Park, the Cake Tin and AMI Stadium would be more than happy to help out.
i find it hard to think that austrslia will hots the world cup, when they couln't even show the NZ game live the other night
Hope they get it would be amazing
Aussie had a great chance and we should back them to the hilt! The spinoffs to NZ will be HUGE!
We need to push for the Aussies to host, and if they get the ticket we'd also want to push to either getting one full place in Oceania, or taking their spot in the Asia group.
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Who was your All Whites man of the match in the win over Bahrain?
I vote it's held in Hamiltron, 2022. It really will be future city by then.