Australian football supremo Frank Lowy insists Australia is still in the running to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cups despite his Asian confederation chief's decision to back Europe for 2018.

The Football Federation Australia (FFA) chairman tried his best to put on a positive spin on Australia's chances for both, despite growing sentiment that Europe will grab the 2018 event and that Australia's best chance lies with 2022.

Mr Lowy denied any suggestion that Australia would pull the plug on 2018 to concentrate on 2022, where its major rival is thought to be the United States.

"We have a bid in for 2018 and 2022, and America has the same," Mr Lowy told reporters as he and Sports Minister Kate Ellis handed out one million rand (more than $A150,000) worth of lap desks to schoolchildren in a black township of Randfontein, west of Johannesburg.

"We are the only ones who can decide to pull out," Mr Lowy said.

"We haven't done that yet, we haven't decided it.

"If we do, we will let the world know.

Asked about the AFC's support for Europe in 2018, he said: "Who cares? So he's not supporting us for 2018 but he's supporting us for 2022.

"This is the AFC's choice. We are bidding for both."

Asked if he felt Australia had a stronger case for 2018, he replied: "If I think we had a better chance for `22 now, we would bid (only) for `22.

"We are well placed," Mr Lowy said.

"We are better placed than we were a few months ago, and we hope to improve that before December (when FIFA will decide the hosts for both World Cups)."

FFA chief executive Ben Buckley said the AFC president's comments did not change anything.

"It doesn't change our position in the contest in any way, shape or form.

"We are as confident as were coming in to the World Cup."

Sports Minister Ellis said: "We will do everything in our power to show there is not better place than Australia to host a World Cup.

"The FFA is bidding for 2018 and 2022, and we are backing them up on that."

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