"Winning the right to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup is a Herculean task but overcoming tough odds is what Australian football does best," Rudd said.
He said Australia won great acclaim for hosting the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the 2003 Rugby World Cup and the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
"Soccer in Australia has 450,000 registered participants and has never been more popular. A bid to host the 2018 World Cup is a natural follow-on from the brilliant performance of the Socceroos at the 2006 World Cup and the success of the A-League," he added.
FIFA will select the 2018 World Cup host in April or May 2011 with Australia facing Mexico, the US, England, Spain/Portugal, The Netherlands/Belgium, Russia, China and Japan as its rivals.
Rudd said representatives of the Australian Football Federation will meet with senior government officials next week to begin planning the bid.
The 2010 World Cup will be held in South Africa and Brazil will host the tournament in 2014. Germany, the host in 2006, drew two million overseas visitors for world's biggest sporting event.
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