Australia picked to host the 2015 Asian Cup

DOHA: Australia went some way to easing the pain of losing out to Qatar in the 2022 World Cup race by being awarded the 2015 Asian Cup on Wednesday.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) were the sole candidate for the event but still had to adhere to the formal bidding process by making their final presentation to the Asian Football Con­federation’s executive committee.

“Today the AFC met and decided Australia would be the host nation for the 2015 Asian Cup,” AFC president Mohamad Hammam said at a press conference in Doha ahead of the 2011 tournament that kicks off here today.

“We considered all the achievments made in Australia towards the development of football and to encourage the next step in developing the game, we are happy to announce the AFC have approved Australia to host the 2015 Asian Cup.”

The decision comes barely a month after Australia’s expensive failed bid to hold the 2022 World Cup, which humiliatingly received just one vote from FIFA’s executive committee.

Instead Qatar was surprisingly handed the tournament ahead of more fancied bids from not just Australia, but Japan, South Korea and the United States.

Hammam, himself a Qatari, said he was confident Australia would host a top-class tournament in 2015.

“The AFC are happy that all the promises Australia have made will be met in good time,” he said.

“We have much interest in seeing the game develop even more in Australia and this is a part of that.”

FFA chairman Frank Lowy said his country had plenty of experience of hosting big events and the government was fully behind the bid.

“We are delighted that you, Mr Pre­sident, and your executive committee decided to award the hosting of the 2015 Asian Cup to Australia,” he said.

“We will do the best possible job for the AFC and for Australia.

“The Australian nation will be on show not just on the field but also off the field. The people of Australia, the government of Australia are ready and able to host the Cup and ensure that football advances throughout Asia through the efforts of Australia.”