Brisbane Roar entertains FIFA delegation

Hyundai A-League players took on the role of FIFA World Cup™ ambassadors as the FIFA inspection delegation arrived in Brisbane today.

BRISBANE Tuesday 27 July

Hyundai A-League players took on the role of FIFA World Cup™ ambassadors as the FIFA inspection delegation arrived in Brisbane today as part of its tour to examine the credentials of Australia-s Bid to win the right to host the FIFA World Cup™ in 2022.

Brisbane Roar A-League players were joined by Brisbane Roar W-league and National Youth League players to put on a training exhibition for the FIFA delegation on the playing pitch of Brisbane Stadium.

Brisbane Roar captain Matt McKay said it was a privilege for his team to have the opportunity to showcase Australia-s domestic football credentials as Australia pushes its Bid to host the biggest sporting event in the world.

“A FIFA World Cup™ is bigger than the Olympics and it would be fantastic to have one played here in Australia,” McKay said.

“It would see an enormous boost to our sporting infrastructure and the feeling a World Cup would create would be enormous.”

Brisbane Roar defender Elise Kellond-Knight said a successful Bid would be a massive boost for football in Australia.

“The focus it would bring to football in this country would see the see the game continue to grow and it would be great for the men-s game but also women-s football and for the youth leagues as well.”

Kellond-Knight and fellow Matilda Brooke Spence met the delegation and gave an insight into the national team-s recent AFC Women-s Asian Cup win in China.

Queensland Minister for Sport Phil Reeves escorted the FIFA delegates around Brisbane stadium and through an exhibition of Host City displays of Brisbane, Gold Coast and Townsville, showcasing Brisbane Stadium, Gold Coast Stadium and Townsville Stadium.

The FIFA inspection team consists of six delegates and is led by Chilean Football Federation President Harold Mayne-Nicholls and includes CEO of 2010 South Africa Local Organising Committee Danny Jordaan, FIFA Head of Event Management Jurgen Muller, FIFA Marketing representative David Fowler, FIFA Competitions representative Julio Avellar and FIFA Media Officer Wolfgang Eichler.

Australia is the third stop on tour of the nine countries that are bidding to host the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup™ tournaments. Today is day two of a three-day visit.

At the end of the inspection tour, the delegation will submit an objective report to assist FIFA's 24 executive members select a host for the 2022 FIFA World Cup™, which will be announced by FIFA on 2 December 2010 in Zurich.

Australia's bid also has complete bipartisan support.

Ten host cities have been selected as part of the Bid under Australia-s nationwide hosting proposal that will see FIFA World Cup™ matches in six states and territories. Three new stadiums will be built in Perth, Canberra and Blacktown in Western Sydney and nine others upgraded should the Bid be successful, providing a $2.8 billion infrastructure legacy for all sporting codes and generations to come.

All Australians can do their part to help bring the FIFA World Cup™ to Australia - add your name at australiabid.com.au