BRISBANE (Reuters) - Australia is serious about bidding for the 2018 World Cup and will not be deterred by claims it is Europe's turn to host the finals, Football Federation Australia (FFA) Chairman Frank Lowy said on Sunday.

"I want to make it clear that we are aiming to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup," Lowy said ahead of Australia's 2010 World Cup qualifying match with Iraq.

"While I understand that there is a view emanating from Europe that it may well be the turn of Europe to be the hosts in 2018, the fact is football is a world game.

"Europe has unquestionably been the focus of football growth and development for much of the past 80 years, but the future of football is in the 'new world' - that is, the developing and growing regions of the world such as Asia."

Lowy said that if Australia was not successful in 2018 it would not rule out bidding for the 2022 tournament.

(Reporting by Andrew Stevens; Editing by Peter Rutherford)