FIFA has launched its bidding process for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, with Australia hoping to get the nod from a 37-strong FIFA Council.
The 2019 event, in France, will conclude without the next hosting rights being awarded, with FIFA chief Gianni Infantino pledging a decision will be made in March next year.
And unlike the new open vote held last year for the 2026 men’s tournament, FIFA will revert to a panel of male-dominated supremos choosing the 2019 hosts via a secret ballot.
Both the voting process and Australia’s chastising experience from the 2022 men’s World Cup bid hasn’t cooled FFA’s ambitions.
Australia received $46 million of public money to garner just one vote in the 2022 race, losing to outsiders Qatar.
The federal government has again dipped in to assist the 2019 bid, pledging $5 million.
“Australia has a fantastic record of hosting sporting events and we are confident we will put together an extremely compelling case to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia in 2023,” FFA chief executive David Gallop said.
Australia’s stiffest competition is likely to come from Colombia.
Aussie sporting rivals South Africa, New Zealand and Japan are also mulling over bids.
The contenders will be known within a month, with an expression of interest due to FIFA by March 15 to be followed by a formal registration by April 16.
The hardest work will then begin for the Australian taskforce, with a detail-rich bid book due in on October 4.
Every Australian state and territory has expressed interest in hosting matches.
FFA declared its intentions in June 2017 and last year launched a AusBid2023.com website for Australians to #GetOnside and submit registrations of support.
A return to the behind-closed-doors vote means the power to award hosting rights will fall to the FIFA Council.
Just six of the 37 FIFA Council members are women. None are Australian.
Gallop said he was unsurprised by the decision to use the old process for the 2023 bid.
“We look forward to better understanding the decision-making process and hosting requirements for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in April,” he said.
“We acknowledge that FIFA has undertaken a substantial reform process in recent years and that the process will be transparent. We will continue to monitor the process carefully.”
The 2019 Women’s World Cup kicks off in June, while the 2026 Men’s World Cup will be hosted by the USA, Mexico and Canada.
Pedro
Guest
Because they don't have a backer like Lowry Maybe he should pay for the the event his owes the taxpayer $45m
Nick Symonds
Guest
"Australia’s stiffest competition is likely to come from Colombia. Aussie sporting rivals South Africa, New Zealand and Japan are also mulling over bids." - Out of all those I'd say that Japan is the strongest competition for Australia. They are no longer just "mulling over" a bid, they've now made it official. - FEB 20, 2019 The Japan Football Association announced Wednesday it will go forward with a long-planned bid to host the 2023 Women’s World Cup. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/02/20/soccer/womens-world-cup/japan-bid-2023-womens-world-cup/#.XG6Cs6IzaUk
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
there is your problem Coopers is second class, and NIB only a bit better. Its going to be hard when Japan put all their best stadiums.
Paul
Guest
Don’t like the fact that this is another “ExCo” vote. Smells like a bad idea. What’s the problem with an open vote for all the associations?
At work
Roar Rookie
Pedro a waste of money is the govt gifting $15m to AFLW to build a boutique ground in Brisbane
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
How is having only 'one good stadium' a limitation? Isn't that, quite literally, what they need? Coopers Stadium and nib Stadium are fine, and I can't see why Perth and Adelaide shouldn't be in any potential bid?
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
How about this. If Perth and Adelaide aren’t in the bid….fine but if thats the case then i will launch a protest for the bid to be renamed Eastern Australia 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Bid. When you say “one good stadium each”. Yeah, put that stadium in the bid. Also if Perth and Adelaide dont have NRL teams in the next 5 years, I’ll ask for the competition to be renamed EARL. Also, name your stadiums. Oh, and Brisbane only has 1 good stadium.
Pedro
Guest
No another waste of tax payers money
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Why should they be in the bid, they only have one good stadium each and their is no way they are going to give up their main stadium for a womens world cup.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Australian media 0 mentions of the similiar amounts of money in real terms wasted on 2 failed Olympic bids. 1000000 mentions of the money spent on the World cup. Why is it the multi billion dollar cost of the Commonwealth games always hidden in the media. Yet probably an extremely sensible event which will require zero outlay on infrastructure and is cheap to bid is being constantly implied that its expensive in the media.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
If Perth and Adelaide aren't in the bid. I'm gonna be more furious than ever.