WA supports Australian bid for Women’s Football World Cup 2023
The State Government has thrown its support behind Australia's bid to host the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, the ultimate competition in international women's football.
- WA Government backs Australia's bid to host 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup
- Perth to host Socceroos World Cup qualifier matches in 2020 and 2021
- Matches would bring significant visitor numbers to WA and boost the local economy
Today, at the home of Sam Kerr's junior club in Perth, Premier Mark
McGowan confirmed that Western Australia had signed up to be part of
Australia's bid, and announced the State would also host Australia's
men's team, the Socceroos, for at least two matches in 2020 and 2021.
The
FIFA Women's World Cup, held every four years, will bring together the
top 32 women's football nations of the Fédération Internationale de
Football Association (FIFA). The teams will play 64 games over a
five-week period in July and August in 2023.
A successful
Australian bid would be a coup for Western Australia, drawing a
significant number of visitors to the State and providing extensive
international media exposure.
Almost 59 million people
watched Brazil's last-16 game against hosts France in this year's World
Cup, making it the most watched women's football match of all time. The
total tournament broadcast audience for France 2019 was estimated at one
billion.
If the bid is successful, WA games will be held
at Perth's rectangular stadium which has the capacity to host 20,500
people at sporting events.
The appointment of a host country is expected in May 2020.
The
State Government is also partnering with Football Federation Australia
(FFA) to host two FIFA Men's World Cup Qualifier matches in Perth in
2020 and 2021.
This will include the Round 2 Socceroos' qualifying match against Kuwait, to be held at Perth's rectangular stadium on March 26, 2020, as well as Round 3 — the final round of qualifiers — in 2021, possibly at Optus Stadium.