MCG Would require minimal upgrades to corporate and broadcast facilities and would be one of two Australian stadiums capable of hosting a World Cup final or semi-final. Room would have to be found nearby for an extensive media centre.
SUBIACO A change of government in Western Australia put paid to plans for a new 60,000-seat stadium, with Premier Colin Barnett preferring to spend less on a redevelopment of Subiaco.
ADELAIDE OVAL The South Australian Cricket Association has announced plans for a $350 million redevelopment that would lift capacity to 45,000. The AFL and SANFL are interested but no funding commitment has been allocated by the State Government, and SANFL plans to redevelop AAMI Stadium have muddied the waters.
TOWNSVILLE Dairy Farmers Stadium is too small to host a World Cup match and a new stadium would have to be built. Football Federation Australia has drawn up plans for a facility that could be down-scaled after the event. Nobody has yet agreed to fund such a project.
NEWCASTLE Energy Australia Stadium is being redeveloped in stages — funded jointly by the NSW and Federal governments. Current plans — costing $60 million — will lift the capacity to 33,000 but the NSW Government has said that capacity can be raised to 40,000 in the event the World Cup bid is successful.
12TH STADIUM To be determined but time is running out fast. Contenders are a redeveloped Wollongong stadium, a redevelopment of Parramatta Stadium or a new facility, built to the same FFA blueprint as the Townsville one, in Blacktown, western Sydney.
CANBERRA The ACT Government has floated plans for a $350 million rectangular stadium at the Bruce site that is home to the Canberra Stadium and the AIS. As part of the plan — which the ACT has said would require a mix of Federal Government and private funding — the existing Canberra Stadium would be converted to an AFL and cricket oval shape and the new stadium built alongside.
SUNCORP STADIUM The Brisbane stadium, redeveloped in 2003, is generally acknowledged as the best place to watch the game in the country. Would require only minor changes.
SYDNEY FOOTBALL STADIUM A rectangular stadium that would need a facelift to corporate and media facilities but is more than capable of hosting World Cup games.
ANZ STADIUM Sydney’s Olympic jewel at Homebush would also be a contender to host the World Cup final and would require only relatively minor adjustments to be FIFA compliant. Capacity is 84,000.
ETIHAD STADIUM On the FFA’s list of 12 but may present problems, as it is likely to be required by the AFL during the World Cup period. Would require minimal upgrade.
CARRARA A $126 million oval stadium jointly funded by State and Federal governments, the AFL and the Gold Coast council that will house the incoming Gold Coast AFL team. Would need expansion as the planned capacity is only 25,000.
