FIFA has multiple bids to consider for 2023 Women’s World Cup

Liam Watson

FIFA the global governing body for football has received four bids from those looking to claim hosting rights for the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

Having recently seen Football Federation Australia (FFA) and Football Ferns (New Zealand) join forces to host the prodigious tournament, it won’t be the only bid that FIFA have to consider.

They have received bids from the Brazilian Football Association (CBF), the Colombian Football Association (FCF), and the Japan Football Association (JFA).

With FIFA confirming that the submission deadline of December 13th has passed, they will start to undergo an inspection of each country through a visit between January and February 2020. A final decision is expected to be made at a FIFA Council meeting in Ethiopia’s capital city of Addis Ababa in June 2020.

While FIFA saw a record number of nine nations including Argentina, Bolivia, South Africa and Korea put themselves forward as potential hosts for the 2023 event, only four in total were accepted after FIFA updated their hosting requirements which lead to a reopening of the bidding process earlier this year.

For the joint bid between Australia and New Zealand, the countries’ federations have planned for the 2023 Women’s World Cup to be held in 12 cities combined, with seven from Australia and five in New Zealand.

“Australia and New Zealand have a successful history of both staging and co-hosting major international sporting events – most recently the Rugby League World Cup 2017 and the Cricket World Cup 2015,” said Richard Colbeck, Australia’s Minister for Youth and Sport.

“By hosting such a premier sporting event, we strengthen Australia’s reputation as a world leader in women’s sport.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has already announced an increase of participating teams in the next Women’s World Cup from 24 to 32 and spoke about the success of the last tournament in France.

“France 2019 was certainly a watershed moment for women’s football, and now it is FIFA’s responsibility to take concrete measures to keep fostering the game’s incredible growth,” he said.

“With the FIFA Women’s World Cup generating an unprecedented interest across member associations, we are ensuring that the process to select the hosts is seamless, objective, ethical and transparent. By the time the FIFA council announces the hosts, there should be no doubt whatsoever as to why that choice was made.”

 

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Football Queensland Academy leads Northern player development

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Football Queensland

Football Queensland (FQ) has celebrated a successful year of player development in the Northern region across youth and junior football through the FQ Academy.

The FQ Academy is Queensland’s only recognised way for players to achieve state and national team representation and showed significant progress over 2024. The Northern region covers some of Queensland’s rural major hubs, including Townsville, Charters Towers, Ayr and Ingham.

In the Northen region, over 150 players participated in the FQ Acadamy across the U9 to U16 age groups, illustrating the influence of adopting Football Australia’s latest national technical standards.

The success of the FQ Academy in the Northern region was further embellished through the selection of 10 local players in Queensland state teams, to compete at the Girls and Boys National Youth Championships in Melbourne and Wollongong.

FQ General Manager, Football & State Technical Director, Gabor Ganczer, expressed his joy for the achievements in the Northern region.

“2024 has been a tremendous year for football in the Northern region, with significant strides in player development as the FQ Academy continues to play a pivotal role in providing young athletes with access to world-class coaching and competitive platforms that continue to raise the standard of football in the region,” he said via press release.

“The progress seen throughout the region is the result of a sustained, long-term approach to player development, with a focus on upskilling coaches and equipping clubs with the tools and resources they need to ensure all players are supported at every stage of their journey.”  

FQ Senior Manager, Technical (Northern Conference), Michael Edwards applauded the work of the FQ Academy.

“The inclusion of local players in the Queensland state teams highlights the significant impact of the continued investment in Northern football programs, helping to elevate talented athletes to elite levels of competition,” he said in a press release.

“The foundation we’ve laid this year, with the FQ Academy at the forefront, will not only set the stage for greater success in the years to come but also drive the continued growth of football in the Northern region and beyond, ensuring clear and accessible pathways for all players to achieve their goals and reach their full potential.”  

Football Queensland remains committed to developing the level of coaching skill and to enhancing player development in the Northern region in 2025 and beyond.

Premier League’s 3pm Blackout Could End After 60 Years

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Image credit: Premier League

The long-standing 3pm broadcasting blackout for Premier League and EFL matches may soon be a thing of the past.

According to The Sun, the restriction could be lifted within the next five years, potentially reshaping the football viewing landscape in the UK.

The Current Situation

The blackout, which has been in place for six decades, prevents live broadcasting of games played at 3pm on Saturdays.

This rule aims to safeguard attendance at lower-league matches by encouraging fans to watch games in person rather than on television.

The Premier League’s new four-year broadcasting deal, set to begin next season, will maintain the blackout. However, both the Premier League and EFL agreements are scheduled to expire at the conclusion of the 2028-29 season, opening the door for significant changes.

Changing Perspectives

Traditionally seen as essential to protect matchday attendance, the blackout’s relevance is being questioned.

EFL studies suggest that televising matches has minimal impact on crowd numbers, challenging the necessity of the rule.

With a surge in live games on TV and digital platforms, the football community is increasingly debating whether the blackout is outdated.

Currently, the Premier League broadcasts 270 matches per season, leaving 110 games locked behind the blackout, and this has become increasingly controversial with local fans left frustrated at the fact they can’t watch all of their teams games.

Piracy Concerns

The blackout has inadvertently contributed to the rise in illegal streaming. Fans often resort to using devices like “cracked Fire Sticks” to watch Saturday 3pm matches, undermining the very attendance-focused intent of the restriction.

Recently, the Premier League have cracked down on piracy, threatening jail time and/or a large fine for anyone who illegally streams games that are affected by the blackout.

What’s Next?

Although the blackout remains in place for now, its future is under scrutiny. As midweek fixtures are exempt from the rule, every Premier League game this week is available for streaming on Amazon Prime.

The decision to lift the blackout will likely come as part of broader broadcasting negotiations, potentially marking the end of a long-standing tradition and redefining how fans experience English football.

With the rule being considered ‘outdated’ by many, the 2028-29 proposed change comes at the right time. Both the Premier League and the EFL can capitalise on an even bigger national TV rights deal, strengthening both leagues’ finances.

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