Rudd steps up for Aussie bid

The Prime Minister is due to fly from Berlin to Zurich for a brief meeting with Blatter on Wednesday afternoon (AEST) to push for Australia to be chosen as the host for either the 2018 or 2022 championships.

Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy will join Mr Rudd to try to convince FIFA that Australia is the ideal host nation.

The pair are due to hold talks with Blatter before the PM heads to Rome.

Australia faces stiff competition from nine other countries, including England, Russia and the United States, as FIFA prepares to make its decision in December next year on who will host the championships.

Rudd's talks with Blatter come after the Socceroos hit their all-time highest world ranking of 16.

The national team have also recently celebrated qualifying for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa - the first time the national team will appear in back-to-back finals.

Before travelling to Europe, Rudd said Australia would be a 'fabulous' host for the World Cup, which he described as the 'greatest event on earth'.

"This is an extraordinary opportunity to showcase Australia to the world," he said.