Fundraising to get the ''next generation of superstars'' to Dunedin for the Fifa Under-20 World Cup continues but the council controls the bid, Football South says.
Football South chairman Dougal McGowan said he expected an update on a possible Fifa Under-20 World Cup bid from Dunedin City Council chief executive Paul Orders later this week.
Chamber of Commerce chief executive John Christie was supporting the Football South trust collecting private and corporate donations, Mr McGowan said.
Football South was ''working through'' how much money was left in a 1999 Fifa Under-17 World Cup trust that could be transferred to the 2015 Under-20 bid, Mr McGowan said.
Queenstown businessman Sir Eion Edgar had pledged $5000 annually to the trust for three years and was one of many to give money to the trust, but other donors would remain unnamed for now, he said.
''They've asked not to be named at this stage; it's early. We haven't even confirmed if we are going to have a bid yet.''
The council controlled the bid but a ''category three'' bid for five or six games, including a quarterfinal, could be possible. The trust had up to $70,000 of funds, he said.
''That's why we have formed this group, so we are ready to go ...
"in case of a ''green light''.
The football community was hopeful of a bid that would bring the ''next generation of superstars'' to Dunedin.
''Wouldn't it be fantastic if Argentina or England played here. Some of those great footballing nations coming out here to play on our turf and [people could] watch them for a week at Logan Park training. [It would be] just outstanding, wouldn't it?'' Mr McGowan said.
Dunedin City Council communications and marketing manager Graham McKerracher said the Fifa bid would go before the council on Monday. The meeting would be closed to the public.
