The Federal Government will provide initial funding of $1 million, with a further $4 million to be to be granted to Football Federation Australia (FFA) following fulfillment of designated criteria and milestones.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said in a statement, “I am delighted we are supporting a bid for the 2023 Women’s World Cup…The Matildas are wonderful role models for young women and girls right across Australia.”
Potential venues include Stadium Australia, Lang Park, Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Newcastle International Sports Centre and Canberra Stadium, as well as other rectangular football venues Sydney Football Stadium, Parramatta Stadium, Perth Oval, Hindmarsh Stadium, Willows Sports Complex and Robina Stadium.
Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Thailand are also interested in staging the 24-team tournament, while Colombia could also make a bid, having just met one of the requirements for potential hosts, in running a women’s national league.
Japan’s original plan to bid for the 2019 tournament was abandoned in favour of 2023 and the benefit of this is that the new National Stadium will be available to use.
FIFA’s director of tournaments, Colin Smith, has called New Zealand a “major contender” to host the Women’s World Cup, should they bid.
While the hopes of South Korea – who missed out on the 2019 finals to France – could well be hampered by also bidding for the men’s 2023 Asian Cup, Thailand’s debut appearance in the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015 has spurred their desire to land the tournament.
Dates for the bidding process have not yet been released by FIFA but meanwhile the Matildas head to the USA in July, to compete in a testing four-nation tournament along with Brazil and Japan.
Photo – matildas.footballaustralia.com.au
