Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has backed Football Federation Australia's World Cup bid for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. The tournament in Australia could bring in $5 billion to the economy, a factor Mr Rudd says cannot be passed up.
"The challenge is great, but the prize is even greater," he said.
"This will be tough but the reason the government has got behind it with a significant investment early on - some $45 million - was to make sure that we as a nation can rise to the occasion," Mr Rudd added.
"What we want the world to conclude is that we are as one behind this great bid - not just in politics but the entire community: business, unions, all of us in this together.
"Even if you have no passion for this game or sport at all, look simply at the economics of it."