Australia has done a backflip on its decision to bid for two World Cups in 2018 and 2022, with Football Federation Australia deciding after consultation with FIFA that it would now focus on the 2022 bid.
The plan all along has been for Australia to bid for either tournament, but with a decision on which country hosts the two events less than six months away, FFA chairman Frank Lowy has confirmed that 2022 is the only option.
The move is a reaction to an agreement made by AFC president Mohammad Bin Hammam to support a 2018 World Cup in Europe, in order to strengthen Asia's hopes of hosting in 2022.
"We have been in discussion with FIFA for months and it is that trusting relationship with the leadership of the governing body that has caused us to focus on 2022 and decide to leave the field for 2018 to European contenders," Lowy said in a statement.
"The FFA's decision was in planning since October 2009 and its leadership, after careful consideration and analysis, has now decided to focus its bidding on 2022."
FIFA CEO Jerome Valcke said that it was a logical move for Australia and the decision to withdraw from the 2018 bid so late in the process will not harm its hopes of hosting in 2022.
"The FFA and my office as well as the FIFA President have been in constant dialogue about Australia's bidding intentions since last autumn," he said.
"The FFA have displayed an exemplary level of solidarity with Europe and the European Bidding Nations and were among the very first to enter into an open and constructive dialogue with me after it became apparent that there was a growing movement to stage the 2018 World Cup in Europe."
"Their announcement of today therefore, to henceforth focus solely on bidding for the 2022 World Cup, is a welcome gesture that is much appreciated by FIFA's leadership and Executive Committee."
"We wish to thank Mr Lowy, the FFA and the Australian Government for allowing the 2018 vote to focus on a European bidding nation."