Australia's soccer chief Frank Lowy has mysteriously indicated that his country's bid to host the 2022 World Cup is still alive, a year after the tournament was awarded to Qatar.

Lowy's comments are likely to spark a fresh controversy on the issue. Australia received only one Fifa vote and was eliminated in the first round. Qatar beat the US in the fourth round in Zurich last December to win the righ to host the event.

"If you recall, I said (last December) that this is not the last word. It wasn't the last word, and the last word hasn't been heard yet," he was quoted as saying in the Herald Sun newspaper.

"You can read anything into that don't ask me to elaborate because I don't have the crystal ball. All over the world, the media (are covering) the 2022 World Cup, the Fifa Executive Committee.

"I don't know exactly where it will bounce, but it's not over yet," he said in the report.

Lowy, 81, was re-elected to head Football Federation Australia for another four years on Monday.