Boost for Australia´s World Cup bid

Australia’s World Cup bid has been given a boost with FIFA expected to restore Oceania’s right to use a vote in the 2022 poll.

Oceania’s right to vote has been in doubt since the confederation’s president Reynald Temarii was suspended for breaking confidentiality rules this month.

FIFA has not commented on Oceania’s request to be represented on the committee however Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy told reporters in Zurich he understood the governing body would agree to it if Temarii did not appeal his punishment.

Temarii, who was cleared of corruption allegations, is understood to be prepared to stand aside if FIFA allow Oceania’s acting president David Chung to cast a vote.

Australia is keen to ensure Oceania has a vote as it is the only bidder that does not have a representative on FIFA’s executive committee.

Governor-General Quentin Bryce and Lowy will lead Australia’s final 30-minute pitch in Zurich on Wednesday.

Fellow 2022 candidates South Korea, Qatar, the United States and Japan will also make their final presentations on Wednesday.

The 2018 bidders present their cases on Thursday morning, with the Belgium-Netherlands followed by Spain-Portugal, England and Russia.