Australia in shock new joint bid for FIFA World Cup

Australia has held discussions with Indonesia about making a joint bid for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, Football Federation Australia (FFA) said on Thursday.

"Football Federation Australia confirms it has held discussions with the Indonesia Football Association (PSSI) about the possibility to jointly bid for the 2034 FIFA World Cup," the FFA said in a statement emailed to Reuters.

"An Indonesia-Australia joint bid was also discussed at last week’s ASEAN Football Federation Council Meeting in Laos."

Australia previously lost out after spending nearly $50 million in a bid for the 2022 World Cup awarded to Qatar.

While the process has been shrouded in controversy ever since the gulf nation was announced as the host, the FFA’s bid was widely panned – particularly a video involving a cartoonish kangaroo.

The governing body is currently bidding to host the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

The 2034 reveal comes days after Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said 10 countries from the ASEAN bloc, including Indonesia, would bid for the tournament at a news conference in Bangkok on Sunday.

The FFA said it noted the joint South East Asian bid was endorsed at the ASEAN summit.

"FFA welcomes the opportunity to further discuss a ASEAN bid for the 2034 FIFA World Cup with fellow Member Associations in the region," the statement added.

with Reuters