THE State Government will bid to host World Cup soccer matches at the new Adelaide Oval as the stadium's $500 million redevelopment raises its international standing as a world-class venue.

Negotiations are also under way to bring some of the world's most famous soccer clubs to the Oval to play Adelaide United this year.

Sport Minister Leon Bignell says the Government will lobby Football Federation Australia - through its Events SA arm - in a bid to snare some of the Socceroos international 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, as well as international club friendlies involving Adelaide United.

The Socceroos are not scheduled to play in Adelaide before the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil in June, but talks are under way to bring either Inter Milan or AC Milan her to play United in August at what will be a 53,500-capacity stadium.

Although as yet unfinished and with the entire eastern stand complex yet to be used, the new Oval has had a stunning debut this summer, hosting sell-out Ashes Test and one-day international cricket matches. The increased capacity and brand-new modern facilities have also been used to attract rock legends the Rolling Stones to play here in March.

Mr Bignell, who described the previous state of the Oval as "a bit embarrassing" as a venue for international events, says the Government will "do what we have to do through the right channels to host the Socceroos and international clubs''.

"We also want to get the Wallabies here to play the big (rugby union) games now that we've got this world-class stadium.

"It was a bit embarrassing before, expecting people to go in there. It wasn't honestly the best facility.

"And we did miss out on the (2015) Asian Cup and I'm sure if the people that made the decision to host those games, if they saw Adelaide Oval in its present state, they would have been jumping over themselves."

South Australia has missed out on being part of the Socceroos' rise as a World Cup finalist over the past decade and has struggled to attract internationally famous clubs from overseas because of facilities that haven't met FIFA standards.

Competitions for such games is fierce and Events SA will have to convince the football federation that the Oval is a better venue than larger stadiums interstate.

It is understood the cost of hosting FIFA World Cup qualifiers ranges from less than $300,000 for a "minnow" nation to more than $1 million for Japan, which is regarded as the best soccer nation in Asia.

The Government would need to invest more than $2 million to land the big names of friendly internationals like England, Italy, Germany, Brazil, Argentina or Spain.

But with Italian giant Juventus facing the Foxtel A-League All Stars at ANZ Stadium on August 10 after NSW major events paid more than $3 million to host Manchester United last July, SA's economy would be expected to benefit from such sporting spectaculars.

A match between Melbourne Victory and Liverpool at the MCG last year in front of 95,000 fans reportedly injected more than $30 million into Victoria's economy, after the state's events arm invested about $2.2 million into the venture.

Mr Bignell believes soccer fans would overwhelmingly support international soccer at Adelaide Oval.

"It's been too long since we had big international soccer games and I think it would just terrific,'' he said.

"Adelaide Oval will be just amazing ... and with soccer bringing good teams here it would be an instant sell out.''

Mr Bignell hopes to attract at least two big soccer matches to Adelaide Oval a year with the potential that Inter or AC Milan could face Adelaide United in August.

An FFA spokesman declared SA has a first class reputation for hosting sporting events.

"FFA welcomes the South Australian government's interest to host future Socceroos matches in Adelaide as part of the next FIFA World Cup and AFC Asian Cup qualification campaigns,'' he said.

"South Australia has a great reputation for hosting world-class events and with the refurbished Adelaide Oval now operational, FFA would consider interest from the Government on behalf of the people of South Australia."

Adelaide last hosted official Socceroos matches in 2004, when Hindmarsh Stadium and Marden Stadium where the venues for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

But since Australia made it to the World Cup finals in Germany eight years ago, SA has been shunned.

Since 2006, the Socceroos have played qualifying and friendly matches in major stadiums in Queensland, Victoria and NSW, after state governments lobbied the FFA.