Australia forges ahead

EXCLUSIVE: FFA Chairman Frank Lowy on TWG

Buckley's trip highlighted the often thankless but complex political roadmap Australia has to navigate if its World Cup bid is to be successful later this year.

Workaholic Buckley travelled half-way around the world to spend less than 48 hours in the Angola capital, meeting African members of FIFA's executive committee in order to garner vital support for Australia's bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.

Buckley made the trip to Angola even though rival bid nation Qatar purchased sole lobbying rights for the Confederation of African Football Congress held in Luanda on January 29, an important networking event.

"The small Australian presence in Luanda, however brief, was noted as was the absence of representatives from Japan and Indonesia," sources in Angola revealed.

"But it should not be forgotten that Africa, too, votes on where a World Cup will be held in the future."

Representatives from England, Netherlands-Belgium, Russia and Spain-Portugal joined Buckley and the Qataris at the CAF congress.

Russia had perhaps the most high-profile presence of bidders, with a team of advisers headed by former FIFA communications boss Markus Siegler and long-time ex-FIFA executive committee member Viacheslav Koloskov.

Underlining the close-knit network with roles in deciding future World Cup hosts, Siegler had previously worked with Peter Hargitay, who is now advising Australia's bid.

Australia's bid has so far rated well in terms of government and public support and legacy, according to a report by World Football Insider, a website specialising in football industry analysis.

But according to the report, Australia still lacks influence in relations with FIFA.

An FFA spokesperson told The World Game the governing body would not comment on the World Football Insider rankings and that Buckley "crammed in a series of meetings on that trip before and after he arrived in Angola.

"It was not just a trip to Luanda and back."