Long regarded as a football backwater, Australia is vying with some of the sport's traditional powers from Europe, Asia and North America to stage the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022.
Australia have developed a strong bid, backed by the federal government and based around their experience in hosting other major international events as well as the fact the World Cup has never been held in Oceania before.
Their best laid plans are already facing opposition on the domestic front, however, following the Football Federation of Australia's (FFA) demand for exclusive access to the nation's largest venues, including Sydney's Olympic stadium and the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The FFA wants sole use of up to 12 of the country's biggest stadiums for at least two months to comply with FIFA's requirements to stage the tournament, causing major disruptions to Australia's three most popular winter sports.
"We are not trying to stand in the way of the World Cup bid but we are not prepared to fall off the face of the planet either," NRL boss David Gallop said in a statement on Monday.
Australia's major football codes agreed to shorten their seasons by a month in 2000 to avoid clashing with the Sydney Olympics but AFL boss Andrew Demetriou said any extended disruption would be a financial disaster.
"It affects revenue, we've got broadcast agreements, we've got agreements with members, we've got agreements with corporate partners," he said.
"The cost is a monumental cost, and I'm talking hundreds of millions of dollars."
"We need to get access four weeks before the competition for preparation for pitches and preparation for overlay that are required by FIFA and the duration of the tournament," FFA chief executive Ben Buckley said.
"In our estimation, that is six to eight weeks depending on where the finals are played.
"I am confident there is goodwill and all the other codes understand there is substantial benefits to Australia as a nation to host a great World Cup."
The Socceroos have also qualified for next year's World Cup in South Africa and FFA officials were at last week's
