Sydney, Jun 9 (DPA): Australia is to focus on 2022 now that Europe has emerged as the likely host for the 2018 World Cup, sources close to the bidding contest said Wednesday.

But Football Federation Australia president Frank Lowy said bids for both 2018 and 2022 remained on the table despite the shock refusal of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to support Lowy's 2018 bid.

At a Johannesburg meeting, AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam backed Europe for 2018 with an Asian host to come four years later.

England is the favourite for 2018, ahead of Russia and joint bids by Holland/Belgium and Spain/Portugal.

The 2022 bid is likely to become a contest between Australia, Qatar, the US, Japan and South Korea. As the US was host in 1994 and Japan/South Korea hosted jointly in 2002, Australia is well placed in the bidding process.

"We are gaining ground," Lowy told The Australian newspaper in an interview in South Africa.

He said focussing on 2022 was an option.

"I don't need to concede one or the other, we are in with a bid for both," he said. "But if I consider it advantageous for us to change our position then we will. At this stage I see no reason."

FIFA is due to announce the hosts of both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in December.