Interview: Australian football chief targets World Cup 2034 after “best ever Women’s World Cup”

James Johnson, CEO of Football Australia, says the country aims to host more international tournaments, including World Cup 2034, after co-hosting the “best ever Women’s World Cup”.
Johnson says the Women’s World Cup has by far surpassed expectations in ticket sales and broadcast reach and emphasised the lasting legacy of the tournament, not just in Australia and New Zealand, but globally.
Why it matters: The ascent of Australia as a plausible international tournament host candidate in the teeth of growing Saudi dominance in Asian and global football will assuage concerns about the Gulf kingdom’s growing influence.
The perspective: Despite high participation, the men’s professional game in Australia has stagnated and the sport faces a number of domestic challenges. Women’s football has helped the broader game through this critical moment.

Australia’s leading football official, James Johnson, CEO of Football Australia, has targeted hosting future international tournaments, after the country co-hosted what he termed “the best ever Women’s World Cup.”

Johnson told Off The Pitch that he was optimistic about the country hosting the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, and said that Australia was strongly considering bids for the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2034 World Cup too. The 41-year-old said that he was unperturbed by po

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