You may be aware that last week FFA hosted the FIFA Congress in Sydney, involving around 2,000 visitors to Australia including the top off-field football people from 201 of the 208 member nations of FIFA.
It was a highly successful occasion, with delegates and FIFA executives all commending FFA on the management and friendliness of the occasion.
This was a very important event for FFA, as it gave us the opportunity to get to know more people in the wide world of football and to show them a little of what Australia has to offer. We were also able to have many one-on-one meetings with members of the FIFA Executive, as well as other delegates, and we also announced the establishment of a collaborative arrangement with the Italian football association which includes their support for our bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
We were very delighted that the feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive, and we believe this is a strong base from which to build a bid. The 2018 FIFA World Cup was, of course, one of the issues that arose during the week, and we wish to let you know of the reasons why we intend making it.
We believe that hosting a World Cup would be a very powerful way to set up football in Australia and in the Asian region.
The Asian Football Confederation is the fastest growing region in world football, and Asia also has the fastest growing economy.
As we all know, from events such as the Sydney Olympic Games and others, Australia has the capacity and expertise to host a major sporting event in this timeframe.
A World Cup would have enormous economic and social benefits for Australia. While a bid comes with a cost, if successful it is an investment that would pay enormous dividends for Australia and for future generations – our children, our grandchildren and their children.
As a guide, a 2004 study on the economic impact of the 2003 Rugby World Cup found that the total 'value added' to the Australian economy was $289 million. By comparison, the same study showed that the total value added for the Sydney Olympic Games was $6.5 billion, and for the FIFA World Cup held in Japan and Korea in 2002 was $27.7 billion.
We are confident we have strong support from around the world.
FFA will be formally launching its bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup towards the end of the year but, in the meantime, we would invite you to lend your support to the cause and become an advocate for 'Australia 2018' at home, at school, at work and at your football club.
We will write to you with more detail later in the year. In the meantime, if you require further information please contact the FFA Head of Corporate and Public Affairs, Ms Bonita Mersiades by e-mail to
2018info@footballaustralia.com.au
On another note, we hope you enjoy the performances of the Qantas Socceroos and the Matildas in their respective World Cup qualifying and Asian Women's Cup matches over the next few weeks.
Frank Lowy AC
Chairman
Ben Buckley
Chief Executive Officer
