To mark the occasion a Qantas Boeing 747 aircraft painted with the words ‘Come Play!’ was unveiled, sending a clear message around the globe from now until December 2010 of Australia’s aspiration to host the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup™.

In addition, the partnership will also include a host of other travel, marketing and communication benefits to support the bid.

“We are thrilled that Qantas has come on board as the first of our bid partners,” said Chairman of FFA, Frank Lowy AC.

“This partnership represents a historic milestone for our bid as we continue our efforts to bring the FIFA World Cup™ to Australia in 2018 or 2022.“

A World Cup on home soil is very achievable. It is a dream, an ambition and an aspiration shared by all Australians.

And now, through the support of Qantas, we are one step closer to helping Australians connect with this dream,” Mr Lowy said.

Qantas is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading premium airlines and one of the strongest brands in Australia.

“As a committed supporter of football and the Socceroos, Qantas is delighted to be partnering with the FFA to promote Australia’s FIFA World Cup™ bid – and it gives us great pleasure to unveil this superb Boeing 747 in Come Play livery,” said Qantas CEO Alan Joyce.

“Qantas is all about taking Australians to the world and bringing the world to Australia, so we hope to play a full part in helping Australia secure the world’s biggest sporting event. 

Having flown the Socceroos all over the globe, we would love to be able to support them as they take on the world in their own backyard.”

Qantas has supported football in Australia for more than a decade as naming rights sponsor of the Qantas Socceroos and all men’s national teams since 2004 and has committed to the team through to March 2012."

Qantas are a fantastic partner of ours and a huge supporter of football and we are honoured to have them support us for our Bid," FFA CEO, Ben Buckley said.

"The Bid is progressing extremely well and we hope to announce some further corporate support soon," he added.

All Australians can show their support for the bid by adding their name at australia2018-2022.com.au.

A decision on hosts for the FIFA World Cup™ in 2018 and 2022 will be announced by FIFA, football’s world governing body, on 2 December 2010.

Football Federation Australia today announced Australia’s first FIFA World Cup bid partnership with the world’s most experienced airline, Qantas.