THE race to host the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup intensified this week, as interested nations submitted their bid books ahead of yesterday’s deadline. 

South Africa ended its attempt to bring the first Women’s World Cup to the African continent, while South Korea — which had planned a joint bid with its northern neighbours — made a similar announcement just hours before the deadline yesterday.

But the chances of an Antipodean World Cup were strengthened as Australia and New Zealand joined forces to submit the first-ever co-confederation attempt to host a major football tournament.

With the backing of both governments, the countries — which also combined to host the 1987 men’s Rugby World Cup — promised “to amplify women’s football in Asia and Oceania like never before, as the two culturally and geographically aligned nations work as one to deliver a truly inspired celebration of women’s football.”

They had vowed to bid alone but now view collaboration as “a logical and compelling response to the expanded 32-nation format that will be introduced in 2023.”

Australia’s Sam Kerr, a new Chelsea signing, admitted that “hosting the Fifa Women’s World Cup in Australia would be a dream come true for me.”

And New Zealand striker Rosie White, currently playing for US club Reign FC, said: “If New Zealand and Australia were to host a World Cup it would change football in our region forever.”

The countries are promising to stage the tournament across 13 stadiums in 12 cities and attract a record attendance of 1.5 million over the 64 matches. The final would be played at the 75,000-capacity ANZ Stadium in Sydney.

Due to their relative remoteness, they are also committing to “scheduling kick-off times to maximise broadcast exposure” and make “a commitment to equitable team travel” across the two countries.

Japan — which will host the 2020 Olympic football tournament across seven venues in six cities — is offering a smaller-scale World Cup using eight stadiums, 32 training bases and 42 referee camps. 

“Fifa requested a tournament with eight venues and adding one more would increase costs significantly,” admitted JFA president Kozo Tashima. “We’re a small country and can take advantage of our transit system, including the bullet train and air routes. With eight stadiums we can run a smooth tournament and keep our costs down.”

It is also proposing that the tournament start earlier than the dates reserved for it in the Fifa Women’s international match calendar — between July 10 and August 23 2023. As Tashima explained: “It’s not good to ask players to rest for two months and then play a World Cup in July. With most of the world’s top players in European leagues, we think that holding the tournament in June will help players stay in peak condition.”

The 32 board members of the Fifa council will vote in May 2020 on who will host the cup. Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia are also bidding to stage the first 32-team tournament.