In the hunt:Australia is seeking to bring the World Cup to its shores in 2034.Credit:AP
With the 2023 Women’s World Cup heading to Australia and Brisbane awarded the 2032 Olympics,Australia could be entering a period filled with mega sporting events,and there is renewed confidence about the integrity of FIFA’s decision-making process after a series of reforms led by president Gianni Infantino.
Johnson stressed that FA had not yet decided to bid for a future World Cup – most likely in 2034 – and was a long way from doing so,but said it was important any such talks began now.
“We’re not bidding for the World Cup. It’s an aspiration that’s part of our vision ... to host a men’s World Cup one day,” Johnson said. “But the way these competitions get won is the conversations behind closed doors start a decade before.
“The next time I think we could realistically host it is ’34 because ’26 is in North America,’22 is in Asia,’30 - I think - will go to Europe or South America. There’s an opportunity to bring the World Cup back to Asia,the Asia-Pacific area,in 2034.”
FIFA president Gianni Infantino delivering the news Australia and New Zealand would co-host the 2023 Women’s World Cup.Credit:Getty
However,Johnson said it would be impossible for Australia to go it alone like the bid team led by then-chairman Frank Lowy did in the failed pursuit of the rights to the 2022 World Cup,which were controversially awarded to Qatar.
“If you look at the way Gianni is wanting to run his competition strategies,he wants cross-nation competitions. I don’t see any future World Cups being run by one country,” said Johnson,a former FIFA executive who worked closely with Infantino.