
FFA have announced Australia will host two AFC youth women’s qualification tournaments in 2021.
The AFC has awarded Australia the right to host a group of the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2022 Qualifiers (Round 1) in Shepparton, Victoria and a group of the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup 2022 Qualifiers (Round 1) in Cessnock, NSW.
The AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2022 Qualifiers are set to take place in March of next year, with the U17 qualifiers due to start a month later, in April.
FFA CEO James Johnson believed hosting these types of tournaments was important for the development of the game.
“On behalf of the Australian football community, I would like to extend our thanks and gratitude to the AFC for granting Australia the hosting rights for these important youth women’s football tournaments which will be held next year,” he said.
“The hosting of these two tournaments aligns with our desire, espoused within the XI Principles for the future of Australian football for Australia, to become the centre of women’s football in the Asia-Pacific region.
“We are excited that our future stars will have the chance to play for Australia on home soil and to showcase their talent in front of friends and family. It also our great pleasure to bring international football to the communities in Cessnock and Shepparton and we hope to provide more opportunities for Australian communities, particularly those in regional areas, to share in the spectacle of the world game.
“We are looking forward to working with the Greater Shepparton City Council and Cessnock City Council to host these important fixtures for the Westfield Young Matildas and Westfield Junior Matildas.”
Johnson added: “We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation nationally and internationally,” with these games to be held in 2021 we hope and expect that the situation locally and within the Asian region will have improved by the kick-off of these tournaments.”