Australia, New Zealand to host 2023 World Cup

The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 will be the first edition to feature 32 teams. [Photo: FIFA]

Australia and New Zealand have been selected as hosts of FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023.

The two countries were selected following a vote taken by the FIFA Council during its meeting held via a videoconference today.

The tally was confirmed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Thursday.

“The joint bid submitted by Football Federation Australia and New Zealand Football received 22 of the 35 valid votes cast by the FIFA Council members in the first ballot, with the Colombian Football Association having obtained 13 votes,” read part of FIFA’s statement.

The World football governing body further pointed out the 2023 showpiece will feature 32 countries.

“Following on from the astounding success of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019™ in France and the subsequent unanimous decision by the FIFA Council, the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 will be the first edition to feature 32 teams and it will also be the first to be hosted by Australia and New Zealand and across two confederations (AFC and OFC),” FIFA said.

The contest was between Colombia, Japan, Brazil and a joint bid from Australia and New Zealand.

FIFA inspection teams visited the four bid candidates in January and February before international travel was restricted due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 2023 World Cup will be the first to feature 32 teams. There were 24 at the 2019 edition won by the United States in France.