To see the Prime Minister meet Harry and the Roos and Matildas today...

However, he will meet with Fifa delegates in Sydney next week as they gather for football’s world get-together in a bid to further boost the FFA’s bid.

The PM was at North Sydney Oval to meet members of the Socceroos and Matildas squads today as they prepared for World Cup qualifiers and AFC Women’s Asian Cup commitments.

After chatting to various players and officials he was presented with a Socceroo shirt bearing Kevin 18 on the back.

Harry Kewell explained that the 18 was to represent Australia’s determination to land the World Cup in 2018.

Mr Rudd said: “The Socceroos are off on a huge number of games over the coming four and five weeks and they carry with them the best wishes of the nation. The Matildas are also heading off to Vietnam for the Asian Women’s Cup.

“This game of football is the world game and to do well in the world game means doing well for Australia.

“Both these teams are ambassadors for Australia. They are our diplomats. More people observe what they do around the world than ever observe any speech that I deliver anywhere.

“The other reason for being here today is to underline again the Australian government’s support for Frank (Lowy)’s efforts to secure the 2018 World Cup for Australia.

“This will be a marathon of all marathons. It is going to be tough as hell. But our approach is you’ve got to be in it to win it."

He added: "If we want the best for this game for the future then bringing that World Cup to Australia in 2018 is the way to go.

“It’s going to be a very, very challenging period of diplomacy both at our level and yours (FFA) in the period ahead, starting when all those Fifa guys come to Australia.”

With the Chinese among those also expected to challenge for the 2018 tournament, the PM is not expecting an easy ride but insists nothing will deter him.

The government has already pumped several million dollars into the sport and Mr Rudd believes it is all about recognising a sport’s stage of development and when is the most appropriate time to assist.

He said: “We’ve a huge challenge ahead which is to get behind soccer for the 2018 World Cup.

"Also we know there are particular development needs which are associated with this game. But when it comes to those other football codes let me tell you we have other things planned as well.

"We believe the country is big enough to support all football codes we want to be behind all football codes and we’ll be behind it in different ways at different times.

“We in Australia don’t put our hand up for a bid unless we’re confident we can deliver the infrastructure to support the bid and that will be the case here as well.

"The Chinese will be very formidable competitors. This will be tough. With the Chinese in the race it’ll be that much harder but that shouldn’t deter us.

“I know I’m speaking with Fifa. I’m looking forward to it. I think what’s really good is to bring this significant world body to Australia.

"Apart from anything else they actually get to physically suck it and see, see what a stupendous country this is, what a great city Sydney is."

He added: “We as a culture, a people, and as a government, when we say we are going to put on a major world sporting event, we get on with the business of putting it on.

"We don’t leave anything to risk. That’s what I’ll convey to Fifa.”

The PM’s support is certainly welcomed by Kewell, who handed him his shirt.

Kewell said: “He has backed football in general. He can see the future because it is a world game. His support can only benefit football in general.

"If we can get a major event over here, we have the facilities, the weather’s fantastic, the people are great and they love football in general.

"To get something like a World Cup over here would be unbelievable.”

To see the Prime Minister meet Harry and the Roos and Matildas today...