Australia to bid for 2011 Asian Cup

CANBERRA, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Australia will bid to host the 2011 Asian Cup if Qatar pulls out of staging the tournament, the Sun Herald newspaper reported on Sunday.

Qatar has scheduled a meeting with Asian Football Confederation officials on Monday to discuss the situation and Australia is at the top of a shortlist of countries to step in, the newspaper said.

"It would be an exciting opportunity for...fans to experience the best of Asian football which is going from strength to strength," Football Federation Australia (FFA) chief executive Ben Buckley was quoted as saying.

"It would also be good for Australia. Playing a game that was invented in England, in a competition that is based in Asia, is a true intersection of our history and geography."

Australian is also possible to bid to host the 2018 World Cup as well as FIFA's Club World Cup in 2009 or 2010.

Australia played in the Asian Cup for the first time last year after switching from Oceania.