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    World Cup would mean mid-season shutdown

    By By Guy Hand

    Wednesday, October 21, 2009

    The AFL and NRL will have to take mid-season breaks of up to eight weeks should Australia host the soccer World Cup in 2018 or 2022.Soccer chiefs are in advanced discussions with the AFL, NRL and rugby union about having first use of the nation's best multi-purpose stadia leading up to and during any Australian-hosted World Cup.The rival codes would have to agree to at least a four-week mid-season shutdown while the tournament is underway in June and July, because of FIFA regulations locking out ...

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