Soccer: Dempsey holds World Cup hope

By Terry Maddaford

World Cup soccer in New Zealand? Far-fetched perhaps, but something Charlie Dempsey is ready to vigorously pursue.

Rugby (in 1987) and cricket (1992) have already been under the World Cup spotlight when New Zealand and Australia co-hosted their respective world championships. That shared responsibility now extends to soccer with Japan and Korea as World Cup hosts in 2002.

"Fifa president Sepp Blatter has made it clear he wants soccer as a truly global game," said Dempsey. "He is strongly supporting South Africa for the 2006 tournament. Should they get that vote, all confederations apart from Oceania will have hosted at least one World Cup.

"It would then be logical Oceania would then be first in line for 2010. That's what we'll be pushing for. It would make sense to play maybe six (of the eight) groups in Australia and two in New Zealand. I'm certain there are now stadiums in this part of the world capable of hosting the games."

Dempsey, a member of Fifa's World Cup 2002 bureau, said the matter was raised at Fifa's last executive meeting and among confederation presidents since.

"The decision on where the 2006 Cup will be played will be made next year," said Dempsey. "That means the 2010 vote should be taken in 2004."

Dempsey flies to Los Angeles this weekend for a series of meetings including the first for the 2002 World Cup bureau.

He will also attend a finance committee meeting before a two-day executive meeting on July 5-6 at which the Football Kings' bid for a place in Australia's Ericsson Cup will be discussed.

That meeting will be followed by a two-day women's symposium and, on July 9, an extraordinary Fifa congress at which three delegates from all 203 member countries will attend.

After watching the final of the women's World Cup on July 10, Dempsey will return home before going to Australia where he will be guest at the games between the Socceroos and Manchester United.

From July 22 to August 4 he will be in Mexico for the Confederations Cup; from August 15-18 in Johannesburg for the Nelson Mandela football farewell. In September, Dempsey will attend a two-Fifa executive meeting in Zurich, will return to New Zealand and then go back to Europe for a sports medicine meeting in Bruges on October 6.

From December 5-7 he will be in Japan for World Cup 2002 meetings and other discussions followed by the draw.

Much of January will be spent in Brazil for the Fifa club competition finals, which will include either Manchester United and Bayern Munich and the six confederation champions.

"The winner will take home at least $US1 million," said Dempsey. "It is important Oceania are represented by their best team."

The Oceania qualifying tournament will be played in Fiji in September-October with the draw for the finals to be made in October.