South-east Asia could offer key to an Australian bid to host men’s World Cup | John Duerden

After the huge success of the Women’s World Cup, there may not be a better time to bid for the biggest event on the planet

After the huge success of the Women’s World Cup, there may not be a better time for Australia to bid for the biggest event on the planet – the men’s edition. This time however, help will be needed and not just from New Zealand and not just because there would be 48 teams instead of 32 and more stadiums required. South-east Asia is the key and having the continent involved and onside means that there should be no need for animated kangaroos in last-ditch pitch videos.

It is often forgotten that, in football terms, Australia is not just a member of the Asian Football Confederation but has also joined the Asean Football Federation (AFF). The biennial AFF Championships – the most visible, colourful, and meaningful of all the regional tournaments staged by Asia’s five sub-federations – flies under the radar in Australia, as the Socceroos do not participate. But with not far short of 700 million inhabitants living in the most passionate football hotbed of the continent, south-east Asia makes up a significant part of the beautiful game.