AusLeisure

The joint bid by Australia and New Zealand to host the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup has been successful with the Council of world football’s governing body voting overnight to stage the tournament in the Southern Hemisphere for the first time.

The combined bid received 22 votes to rival potential host Colombia’s 13.

Australia and New Zealand had received public backing from the Asian Football Confederation, which has seven votes, and won support from all members of the council from the Confederation of African Football and Concacaf, which represents North and Central America and the Caribbean.

However, it failed to secure the backing of European football body UEFA, the confederation with the largest number of members on the FIFA Council.

Both Football Federation Australia (FFA) and New Zealand Football (NZF) were delighted their ground-breaking joint bid to host the tournament was successful, promising to deliver record-breaking crowds and long-term participation growth in the game.

NZF President and FIFA Council Member, Johanna Wood stated “Australia and New Zealand will not only host a FIFA Women’s World Cup™ that is the largest tournament ever run, but it will also be a catalyst for ensuring the development of women’s football continues in the Asia-Pacific region and globally.

“Our two nations have worked together to deliver an exceptional, historic bid and I would like to thank FIFA and the whole football family for giving us this opportunity. The FIFA Women’s World Cup™ 2023 will bring us all together in a celebration of our shared loved of football.”

FFA President, Chris Nikou added “(this) will be ground-breaking in many ways. Not only will it be the first ever co-confederation hosted FIFA World Cup and the first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup in the Asia-Pacific region, but we will unlock the huge potential for growth in women’s football in the Asia-Pacific region.”

FIFA’s technical reports on the remaining bids gave the Australia and New Zealand bid a score of 4.1 out of five and Colombia a score of 2.8.

Among other nations that had been looking to host the tournament, Brazil withdrew its bid on 8th June while Japan pulled out of the race on 22nd June.

Image: The Sydney Opera House lights up in celebration of the Australia and New Zealand bid to host the Women’s World Cup 2023 (top, courtesy of Arthur Stanley) and members of FFA’s Board, management, and staff along with Matildas players, Football Fern Rebekah Stott and Federal Minister for Sport, Senator Richard Colbeck celebrate in the early hours of this morning at FFA Headquarters in Sydney (below, courtesy of ther FFA).

Related Articles

23rd June 2020 - ICC says T20 Women’s World Cup 2020 broke viewing records for female sport

23rd June 2020 - Japan withdraws bid to host 2023 Women’s World Cup

16th June 2020 - Rugby Australia forms advisory board to oversee 2027 World Cup hosting bid

10th June 2020 - Australia and New Zealand secure top score in evaluation bid report for 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup

1st May 2020 - China looks to FIFA World Cup hosting with new football stadia

21st April 2020 - New Zealand football clubs benefit from FIFA Women’s World Cup funds

27th March 2020 - Australia secures hosting of 2022 Women’s basketball World Cup

26th February 2020 - 1000 day countdown to Qatar’s FIFA World Cup

19th February 2020 - FFA and NZF to demonstrate unified bid to FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 inspection team

19th June 2020 - FFA agrees new broadcast deal with A-League 2020/21 season set for winter finish

15th June 2020 - FFA Women’s Football Council releases Business Case to transform women’s football

13th May 2020 - FFA set lose $6 million sponsorship with major A-League sponsor Hyundai

11th March 2020 - Female participation in football reaches record levels in Australia

21st November 2019 - Two female directors join Football Federation Australia board

27th May 2019 - Andrew Pragnell named new Chief Executive at New Zealand Football

30th April 2019 - New Zealand Football’s first female President looks to ongoing growth in women’s game

26th October 2016 - New Zealand Football set to mark 125 years

17th August 2016 - New Zealand Football submits Futsal World Cup bid

9th October 2017 - Dispute over empty seats at FIFA U17 World Cup

---

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.