SYDNEY: A top Asian football official backed Australia to host the World Cup on Friday after organising the "best ever" Asian Cup with full stadiums and record TV audiences in the region.
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) general secretary Alex Soosay said Australia, which lost out to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup, had overcome initial doubts within the body.
At the quarter-final stage, attendances have already soared past Qatar 2011 and TV ratings in China, Japan and South Korea have hit new highs for the tournament.
"I think holding a World Cup in Australia, definitely, they have the mettle, they have the confidence, they have the infrastructure," Soosay told AFP in an interview.
"They have everything here to host. I think it will be a remarkable World Cup here if Australia host the World Cup."
Asian backing would be important if Australia does launch another bid for the World Cup following their disappointing campaign for 2022.
Australia attracted only one vote when the 2018 and 2022 hosts were decided in late 2010. The bidding process was later investigated following claims of corruption.
Soosay said the AFC was initially "not very optimistic" about rugby and cricket-mad Australia hosting the Asian Cup when the body first considered it in 2011.
But attendances of more than 465,000, with two stadiums sold-out, and a Twitter reach nudging two billion have put any doubts to rest and set a high bar for future hosts.
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