Australia and New Zealand will get to co-host the 2023 Women’s FIFA World Cup as they have got a nod from the apex body on Thursday.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino and other members vouched for Australia and New Zealand as the joint hosts for the major event where, as many as 32 teams will participate in the event.
Australia and New Zealand together beat Columbia by 22-13 during the voting session of the FIFA’s ruling council, as they were adjudged the best commercial prospects for women’s soccer event.
“We need to boost women’s football. If you have to wait four years all the time, maybe it’s a bit long.” Infantino spoke to the reporters from FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich.
Earlier, Japan had pulled out of the contention, leaving Columbia and the joint contenders Australia and New Zealand in the race. Japan had cited the reason that it would make no sense of trailing behind in the votes and end up without the hosting rights. Moreover, staging two major events in such a short span is virtually impossible for any country especially after the global pandemic.
Columbia was the only South American country in the race but seems like, they will have to wait a bit longer to host its first Women’s World Cup.
Both the Australian and New Zealand government had backed the bid, as New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern publicly vouched for hosting the major women’s sporting event. While her Australian counterpart Scott Morrison penned an open letter to FIFA supporting the joint bid.
