Westfield Matildas and Football Ferns players have come together to support the Bid ‘As One’ for Australia and New Zealand to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Asia-Pacific in 2023.
Australia’s Sam Kerr and New Zealand’s Rosie White spoke about the need to capitalise on the interest for women’s football in Asia and Oceania by having both nations receiving dual hosting rights, as per the FFA press release.
Sam Kerr:
“Hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia would be a dream come true for me,” she said.
“There is so much untapped potential, not just in Australia but right across Asia and the Pacific region, that I really do believe we would offer something incredibly special to FIFA.
“I really believe that Australia and New Zealand would be incredible hosts to take the game forward.
“It is also fitting that New Zealand was the Matildas’ first full international opponent 40 years ago and now we are partnering in a Bid to host the biggest women’s sporting tournament on the planet.”
Rosie White:
“If New Zealand and Australia were to host a World Cup it would change football in region forever,” she said.
“I had a taste for it with the U-17 Women’s World Cup (in New Zealand) in 2008 and that is, still to this day, one of my favourite memories.
“I could not think of a better opportunity than hosting a World Cup to help women’s football skyrocket in New Zealand – to inspire the next generations and drive investment into our sport.
“New Zealand would be an amazing host for the World Cup – not only are we a hugely popular destination for tourists, but we know we can put on a show. New Zealanders are fantastic at banding together and getting things done, we are known for being amazing hosts.”
The ‘As One’ FIFA Women’s World Cup Bid was announced at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Friday morning just hours before the Official Bid Book was to be submitted to FIFA at their global headquarters in Zurich.