February 7 – Despite Australia’s bitterness at not winning the rights to host the 2022 World Cup still seemingly burnt deep into the psyche of the nation, its government and federation have not been put off bidding for FIFA events.
The Australian government has allocated an additional A$4 million ($3.9 million) to Football Federation Australia (FFA) to mount an Australian bid to host the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The government has already put up A$1 million ($787,000).
The host for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is set to be announced in 2019.
“This is an exciting day – for women’s sport in Australia, for all sport in Australia and for all Australians. An Australian bid has every chance of success. We have world class female footballers, we can provide world class venues and a world class experience for participants and spectators around the world,” Australian minister for sport Bridget McKenzie.
If Australia’s bid is successful, they would become the first AFC Member Association outside of China – who hosted in 1991 and 2007 – to stage the women’s World Cup.
Australia successfully hosted the 2015 Asian Cup men’s football tournament and co-hosted the 2015 Cricket World Cup. This year they are hosting the Commonwealth Games.
“The Commonwealth Games in April on the Gold Coast will build on these successes, and help ensure that Australia is among the top contenders to host the Women’s World Cup,” said McKenzie.
Football Federation Australia Chief Executive Officer David Gallop welcomed the Australian government’s support, saying: “We believe that hosting the world’s biggest women’s sporting event, the FIFA Women’s World Cup, would bring enormous benefits to the Australian community, not only promoting healthy, active lifestyles but inclusion and gender equality.
“We also believe hosting the tournament in 2023 would provide economic benefits and years of trade and diplomatic opportunities for Australia. The last FIFA Women’s World Cup, hosted by Canada in 2015, was attended by 1.35 million people and had a global television audience of 764 million, with 80 million of those in China.”
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