Australia’s 2018 World Cup hopes dim

Australia’s football chief Wednesday admitted the nation’s push for the 2018 World Cup was in jeopardy, after FIFA president Sepp Blatter indicated preference would likely be given to a European bid.

Blatter said this week there was a “movement at the moment among the various candidates” for 2018 eligibility to be limited to bidders from Europe, according to widely published reports.

The Football Federation of Australia (FFA) said it had been aware “for some time” that a Europe-only deal was being considered by FIFA, the sport’s governing body.

“Hence FFA is not surprised by the president’s comments as they are reflective that those discussions have occurred in some quarters,” it said in a statement.

But FFA chairman Frank Lowy said Australia remained committed to its 2018 bid until convinced otherwise.

“If we come to the view that we have a better chance for 2022 than 2018 we will act accordingly,” he said.

FFA chief Ben Buckley was en route to the African Cup of Nations and congress of the Confederation of African Football to press Australia’s bids for 2018 and 2022, Lowy added.

Australia, England, Indonesia, Japan, Netherlands/Belgium, Russia, and Spain/Portugal have bid to host both World Cups, while Qatar and South Korea are only interested in 2022.

England and Spain are viewed as the leading contenders for 2018, while the United States is seen as a top candidate for 2022.

The FFA has drafted Oscar winner Nicole Kidman to tout Australia’s credentials in a promotional film.

But damaging infighting between the FFA and rival football codes has plagued Australia’s bid, with the powerful Australian rules and rugby league bodies refusing to make venues available or demanding financial compensation.

Sports Minister Kate Ellis last month urged the codes to put aside their differences, saying the government supported FFA’s World Cup campaign as benefiting both the sporting and general community.