FFA and NZF unite 'As One' as FIFA Women鈥檚 World Cup 2023 inspection visit begins

As the FIFA Women鈥檚 World Cup 2023TM inspection team begins its visit to Australia and New Zealand today, Football Federation Australia (FFA) and New Zealand Football (NZF) look forward to demonstrating the vision and detail of their historic, game-changing bid to host the biggest women鈥檚 event in world sport.

FFA and NZF have worked hand-in-hand to combine their strengths to host the first ever 32-nation FIFA Women鈥檚 World CupTM in 2023. Australia New Zealand, with unified support from their respective Governments, promise to amplify women鈥檚 football in Asia and Oceania like never before, as both nations work together, 鈥楢s One鈥, to deliver a truly inspired celebration of women鈥檚 football.

Throughout the inspection visit, the FIFA delegation will hear how the Australia New Zealand bid will deliver technical excellence at every level, with the players鈥 interests centre stage throughout the competition.

Played during the southern hemisphere winter, the tournament will provide ideal conditions for players and will be hosted at an optimal time for fans traveling from the northern hemisphere. Australia and New Zealand鈥檚 sport-mad and culturally diverse populations will ensure full stadia for every game and a record 1.5million spectators.

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As One


NZF President and FIFA Council Member, Johanna Wood, believes Australia New Zealand has produced a type of bid which has not been seen before:

鈥淲e are proposing a tournament of firsts as we would be the first ever co-Confederation hosted FIFA World CupTM, the first co-hosted FIFA Women鈥檚 World CupTM, and the first-ever FIFA Women鈥檚 World CupTM within the Asia-Pacific region and the southern hemisphere.  Women鈥檚 football is growing rapidly and our two diverse nations are natural partners to FIFA in promoting equality and fairness.

鈥淣ew Zealand Football and Football Federation Australia have produced what we think is a game-changing bid for the FIFA Women鈥檚 World Cup 2023TM. Our proposal puts the players at the heart of the tournament and we believe we will provide an opportunity to capitalise on the momentum the women鈥檚 game has generated since France 2019.

鈥淪itting at the heart of two neighbouring Confederations also means our bid has the potential to unlock the huge potential in women鈥檚 football in the Asia-Pacific region, while also guaranteeing strong financial return and a genuine legacy for the women鈥檚 game for FIFA.鈥

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Johanna Wood, New Zealand Football President and Chris Nikou, FFA chairman with Australia and New Zealand players Stephanie Catley and Rebekah Stott during the announcement of Australia & New Zealand's Joint Bid to host the FIFA Women's 2023 World Cup


FFA President, Chris Nikou, believes that all stakeholders across the game are united behind the bid, whilst FFA鈥檚 experience of hosting the recent Asian Women鈥檚 Olympic Football Qualifiers demonstrate that FFA can be trusted to deliver major football competitions:

鈥淪tate, Territory and Regional Associations, professional and grassroots clubs, players 鈥 the entire football community in Australia and New Zealand has come together to support this bid. The game is united in its quest to break new ground for football in this region.

鈥淚n recent days, the FFA overcame multiple barriers to deliver the Asian Women鈥檚 Olympic Football Qualifiers at short notice which demonstrates our 鈥榗an-do鈥 attitude and partnership approach with the wider football family. This inspection visit is an opportunity for us to further demonstrate both the technical strengths of our bid and also the wider game-changing vision we have for the FIFA Women鈥檚 World CupTM.

鈥淚 am confident that our team will show the FIFA delegation how our two special countries have come together As One to provide a platform for grassroots and professional players, officials and fans alike to grow the game throughout the Asia-Pacific region.鈥

The FIFA Council will award the hosting rights in June 2020.

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