‘We should feel very confident going into a future men’s World Cup bidding process’, Football Australia chief executive James Johnson says

Football Australia is set to formally throw its hat in the ring for the 2034 tournament after the success of “the biggest and best ever Women’s World Cup”.

Australia is set to bid for the 2034 men’s soccer world cup after hosting “the best ever” FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Football Australia is expected to formally throw its hat in the ring for one of the biggest sporting tournaments on earth, after a record-breaking women’s version of the event.

Australia will likely partner with up to three countries in the Asia Pacific region to try and bring the men’s World Cup down under for the first time.

And it could be one of five major soccer tournaments to be hosted here across a decade, including this month’s Women’s World Cup.

Australia will likely partner with up to three countries in the Asia Pacific region to try and bring the men’s World Cup down under for the first time. Picture: Getty

A bid is already in for the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup, a push is likely for the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup – set to feature the likes of Manchester City and Barcelona – and a plan is in place to bring the men’s Asian Cup back to Australia in 2031.

In an exclusive interview with the Herald Sun, Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said the Women’s World Cup had “absolutely” paved the way for the nation to chase even bigger events.

“I think we should feel very confident going into a future men’s World Cup bidding process because we’re in a position that the sport has never been in before,” he said.

“What we will be able to say the day after the Women’s World Cup final is very clearly that this was the biggest and best ever Women’s World Cup.

“I think having that in the bag does set us up very well for future bids.”

The Women’s World Cup has paved the way for Australia to chase even bigger events. Picture: Getty

While an Australian bid will rely on state and federal government support and stadium upgrades, some works could form part of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games infrastructure program.

“I think we are in a very good position to bid for future competitions following this Women’s World Cup,” Mr Johnson said.

“I have no doubt in my mind Australia will host the men’s World Cup – it’s a matter of when.”

The Andrews government denied that Victoria would miss out on holding a men’s FIFA World Cup final if Australia won the bid for the 2034 event, saying finals could be held at the MCG.

Despite being considered the sporting capital of Australia, Victoria missed out hosting either of the women’s world cup finals because AAMI Park, which holds up to 30,000 fans, was considered too small for the tournament’s major games.

The MCG was also ruled out due to a longstanding regulation that requires a World Cup venue to be exclusively available for soccer two weeks before the tournament and ending a week afterwards.

But senior minister Danny Pearson on Friday said a men’s world cup final at the MCG could become a reality in 2034.

“Obviously the work needs to be done in terms of going out there, putting together a bid, communicating with FIFA and doing that work. But you know, I mean, the MCG is one of the finest venues you’ll ever see in the world, and I can’t think of a more fitting place to hold a man’s world final in 2034 than the MCG,” Mr Pearson said.

The minister denied that sporting bodies had lost faith in the state after the cancellation of the Commonwealth Games, arguing Victoria was still “the envy of the world when it comes to fantastic sporting infrastructure”.

“We are the only city with the Grand Prix and the Grand Slam,” he said.

“I think that what the world has seen these last few weeks is you know, we know how to put on a show and I reckon 2034 can’t come soon enough.”

The destination for the 2030 World Cup is likely to be decided next year, with an alliance of Spain, Portugal, Ukraine and Morocco and a South American coalition of Uruguay, Chile, Argentina and Paraguay considered the favourites for the event.

Football Australia chief executive James Johnson says it’s a matter of when, not if, Australia will host a men’s World Cup. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Bids for the 2034 tournament are expected to open in 2026, with Mr Johnson saying Australia was well placed to strike a deal in the wake of Matildas mania.

“If we want to continue that interest, we need to keep bringing big content back here,” he said. “I think the men’s World Cup would be another big opportunity for Australian football, Australian sport, to keep this level of interest beyond the Women’s World Cup. We’ve got more behind us now than we’ve ever had to launch a bid.”

A spokesman for federal Sports Minister Anika Wells said the government was “extremely pleased” with the Women’s World Cup and gave “serious consideration to all bids for major sporting events”.

A Victorian government spokesman said: “We will continue to work with football partners to secure top-level matches in Victoria.”

FIFA president Gianni Infantino declared this month’s event “definitely the greatest FIFA Women’s World Cup ever”.

Mr Johnson said Australia’s distance from Europe could even work in its favour as FIFA tries to tap into a time zone close to India, China and the US west coast.

The next men’s World Cup – in the US, Mexico and Canada – will expand from 32 to 48 teams, with 16 stadiums in 16 cities and 104 matches instead of 64. It is a “giant shift in terms of content, matches and stadium requirements”, with FIFA demanding venues seat at least 40,000 fans for group games, 60,000 for semis and 80,000 for the final.

Mr Johnson said: “We really need that continual support once the Women’s World Cup leaves our shores and our state and federal governments need to start planning some of these investments now.

“The conversations we have now will impact our ability to bid for future competitions.”

FA’s “immediate focus” is securing the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup, with Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan also bidding.

The 2029 FIFA Club World Cup will feature the 32 best clubs on the planet.