Australia's hopes of hosting the 2022 World Cup, which could generate $36 billion, have received an "enormous" boost from the success of Sydney's Fan Fest event, Football Federation Australia (FFA) says.

The city was picked by FIFA, world football's governing body, as just one of six Fan Fest sites across the world to screen live coverage of World Cup 2010 from South Africa on giant screens.

As well as allowing fans to watch matches, the event was being closely monitored by FIFA as the race to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups nears its climax.

Australia has already dropped out of hosting the 2018 tournament, which is expected to be awarded to a European country.

But it is firmly in the running for the 2022 tournament, with FIFA due to make an announcement on both tournaments in December.

FFA spokesman Rod Allen said about 140,000 watched the first three games at the Sydney Fan Fest.

Event organisers say around 500,000 attended over the course of the four-week 2010 tournament, despite anti-social kick-off times and occasionally inclement weather.

"Considering that most of the matches were on well after midnight in the middle of winter it is an amazing effort for fans to leave their warm homes to enjoy the atmosphere," Mr Allen told AAP in an emailed statement.

"The success would certainly be noticed by FIFA who was closely monitoring the sites - the first time that the official FIFA Fan Sites were held outside of the host country.

"They would do our bid for the 2022 FIFA World Cup an enormous amount of good by showing FIFA and the world just how much Australians love football."

Sydney Fan Fest spokeswoman Nicole Browne said the turnout was pleasing.

"Given the time differences and other factors we probably expected about that number," she told AAP.

"Given Australia's draw, the time differences, the weather, people having to work etc, we're very happy with the numbers."

Global research firm IBISWorld said hosting the 2022 World Cup could be worth $35.6 billion to the Australian economy, based on predicted spending across the construction sector ($26 billion), retail sector ($1.9 billion) and licensed venues ($2.7 billion).

IBISWorld general manager Robert Bryant said the 2022 World Cup would, in real terms, generate four times more spending than the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

"While some of the infrastructure spending has been planned and would be brought forward should Australia's World Cup bid be successful, much of it is dependent on Football Federation Australia convincing a majority of the 24 members of FIFA's executive committee to come play in 2022," he said in a statement.

FIFA will announce the hosts of the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2022 FIFA World Cup on December 2.

Acting NSW Premier John Hatzistergos said the FIFA Fan Fest at Darling Harbour had been a huge success.

"The atmosphere at the International FIFA Fan Fest in Darling Harbour this morning was fantastic," he said in a statement.

"I want to congratulate not only Spain and the Spanish fans for an historic World Cup win, but every one of the half a million football fans that braved the early mornings to support their teams over the past 31 days - their behaviour has been exemplary."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP