SYDNEY (AFP) - Australia's football chief said entry into the Asian Football Confederation could open the way for an annual tri-nations tournament featuring Australia, Japan and South Korea.
Football Federation Australia chief executive John O'Neill said an upcoming switch from the Oceania World Cup qualifying group to the Asia group offered Australia the chance to develop fierce football rivalries in Asia.
The contests could eventually compare with the Ashes cricket series with England and the Bledisloe Cup rugby union clash with New Zealand, he said.
O'Neill said there would be huge interest in an annual three-way tournament featuring Australia playing Japan and South Korea, the superpowers of Asian football who excelled at the 2002 World Cup.
"In my experience of sport, it would not take long for that to get a lot of traction as a major tribal clash," he told a seminar in Sydney.
O'Neill said Australia's move to the Asia federation offered it high-quality opposition and the chance of automatic qualification to the World Cup finals.
He said Australia's experience of organising major sporting events as well as its top class coaches and ability to help provide sporting facilities in developing nations would also contribute to Asian football.
The 2006 World Cup in Germany is the last tournament that Australia will attempt to reach through the Oceania group. After 2006, it will compete in the Asian qualifying group.
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How good would this be if it gets off the ground?
Football Federation Australia chief executive John O'Neill said an upcoming switch from the Oceania World Cup qualifying group to the Asia group offered Australia the chance to develop fierce football rivalries in Asia.
The contests could eventually compare with the Ashes cricket series with England and the Bledisloe Cup rugby union clash with New Zealand, he said.
O'Neill said there would be huge interest in an annual three-way tournament featuring Australia playing Japan and South Korea, the superpowers of Asian football who excelled at the 2002 World Cup.
"In my experience of sport, it would not take long for that to get a lot of traction as a major tribal clash," he told a seminar in Sydney.
O'Neill said Australia's move to the Asia federation offered it high-quality opposition and the chance of automatic qualification to the World Cup finals.
He said Australia's experience of organising major sporting events as well as its top class coaches and ability to help provide sporting facilities in developing nations would also contribute to Asian football.
The 2006 World Cup in Germany is the last tournament that Australia will attempt to reach through the Oceania group. After 2006, it will compete in the Asian qualifying group.
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How good would this be if it gets off the ground?
