Football Federation Australia (FFA) chairman Frank Lowy declared at Parliament House in Canberra today that the bid was "realistic" and "achievable".

 

He said:"Hosting the World Cup would provide Australia with an unparalleled opportunity and give Australia a lasting and living legacy for generations to come.

 

"On the world stage, there is no event with the same level of global appeal or audience reach as the FIFA World Cup." 

 

Lowy said the people of Australia were the bid's "secret weapon".

 

He said: "People from all over the world want to visit our country.

 

"Thanks to the performance of the Socceroos at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, as well as the many thousands of Australian fans who followed them, the rest of the world has a very positive view of us."

 

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd called the World Cup “the greatest event on earth'' and applauded Australian football's “audacity, sheer chutzpah and organisational skills''.

 

He praised Lowy's vision and ability to “get inside the head of any politician''.

 

He said: “Prior to the last election, he said to me, 'How about it Kevin?'.

 

"I'm sure he did the same to [former Prime Minister] John Howard.'

 

“We are good at hosting big events.

 

“This is an extraordinary opportunity to showcase Australia to the world.''

 

Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer is convinced “without a doubt'' Australia's bid to host either the 2018 or 2022 World Cups could have a major impact on the the fortunes of the sport in the country. 

 

He said: “I saw how it transformed Germany in 2006.

 

“No-one can really understand the magnitude of the game and what it would do for this country, not only for football but for the revenue and the jobs it would create.

 

“The impact on Australia as a whole would be unbelievable.

 

“Bringing the World Cup here would be bigger than anything we have ever seen before.

 

“It is truly the greatest show on earth.''

 

 

West Ham United's Lucas Neill (pictured with Schwarzer), Australia's captain, was another who took up the Prime Minister's case that, football passions aside, the event would showcase Australia, echoing the words used by Barack Obama during his successful election campaign to become United States President.

 

Neill said: “This big dream to bring the World Cup to Australia makes me realise how far Australian football has come.

 

“Who would have dreamt of this 10 years ago?

 

“The more I think of it, the more I believe, ‘Yes we can'.''

 

“It would be great for football, great for the economy, great for business, great for tourism and great for the Australian people.''

 

Harry Williams, one of the part-time heroes who played in Australia's original 1974 World Cup team, said hosting the event would be “a gift to future generations''.

 

He said: “This is bigger than the Olympics."

 

Australia will be up against nine other bids when world body FIFA decides on hosts for both the 2018 and 2022 championships in December next year.

 

They include four bids from Europe - the favourites England, Russia and joint campaigns from Spain/Portugal and Belgium/Holland - as well as the US, Mexico and three from Asia besides Australia - Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Qatar.

 

Qatar and South Korea are only bidding for the 2022 tournament.

 

Rudd said: "The sheer odds are tough against Australia, eight other countries, but the reason the Government had got behind the bid is that we as a nation can rise behind this great bid.

"The challenges are great, but the prize is much greater.

"I salute those who have had the courage and the initiative and creativity to bring forth this idea."

 

Australian officials estimate a World Cup in Australia would generate A$3.9 billion (£2.4 billion) in direct expenditure from items including tickets, accommodation and meals, and 4.7 million spectators.