New Zealand ready if FIFA move 2010 World Cup
Thursday, 31 August 2006 10:29New Zealand Soccer chief executive officer Graham Seatter would jump at the chance to co-host the World Cup with Australia but has admitted he does not expect FIFA to move football's 2010 showpiece away from South Africa.
In response to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, which claimed the FIFA was considering a change as South Africa's preparations fall behind schedule, Seatter and New Zealand Soccer issued a formal statement laying out their position.
'If the World Cup did come down to Australasia we'd be delighted and we'd do whatever we could to make it successful,' Seatter said in the statement on New Zealand's soccer web site.
'But FIFA are really committed to South Africa and that's unlikely to change. They're committed to making it a success in South Africa.'
South Africa's main stumbling block so far has been upgrading its internal transport system.
It has been reported that the South African government has set aside 8.7 billion rand (£643m) for improvements to the airports, roads and railways, but even that is unlikely to be enough for South Africa to match the infrastructure offered by 2006 hosts Germany.
'The major issue is internal transport. Germany had a great train, autobahn (road) and plane network,' Seatter said.
