Sydney  - Australia will bid to host either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, the national football federation announced Sunday.

"This marks the beginning of a long and important journey, not just for football but for Australia, until we know the outcome in December next year," Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy said.

"The bid will also help the world understand that Australia is a 'can-do' country, where important, major events can happen with a minimum of fuss and a minimum of worry."

Last year the government appropriated 45 million Australian dollars (28 million US dollars) to pay for the campaign.

Britain, Japan, Qatar, Mexico, Russia and Indonesia are also keen to host one of the next two tournaments, as is the United States.

Spain and Portugal, like Belgium and Holland, have put forward a joint bid.

African countries cannot bid for the 2018 tournament because the 2010 World Cup will be staged in South Africa. South American countries are out of contention for both
2018 and 2022 as Brazil will host the 2014 championship.

Bidding countries must have a dozen 40,000-seat stadiums, at least one of them with a capacity of 80,000 seats.

Australia is more likely to be in contention for the 2022 World Cup, because FIFA boss Sep Blatter has already said the 2018 finals would likely be held in the northern hemisphere.

Blatter, speaking in Australia earlier this year at FIFA's Congress, said that after being played in South Africa in 2010 and Brazil in 2014 "it's a logical approach that the World Cup 2018 competition would go back to the (northern) continent."

Australia's national team has qualified for the World Cup finals just twice, in 1974 and 2006, and is hoping to play in South Africa in 2010. (dpa)