Suncorp push to host World Cup final
Brisbane is on track to host a semi-final of soccer’s next women’s World Cup after a joint bid by Australia and New Zealand secured one of sport’s richest prizes.
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BRISBANE is on track to host a semi-final of soccer’s next women’s World Cup after a joint bid by Australia and New Zealand secured one of sport’s richest prizes.
Soccer’s governing body, FIFA, yesterday confirmed the trans-Tasman bid had beaten that of Colombia to host the 2023 World Cup.
Now the Women's Football World Cup ... soon the Brisbane Olympics
In a huge coup for Australian sport, one of the world’s biggest events will come Down Under for the first time, and Queensland is poised to snare a major slice of the action.
After making a significant contribution to the bid proposal, Queensland officials are confident of bringing nine matches to the Sunshine State, including a highly coveted semi-final.
With a capacity of more than 52,000, Suncorp Stadium is the second-largest venue involved in the bid (behind Sydney’s Olympic Stadium) and should be in the box seat for a semi-final, with Auckland an early frontrunner for the other.
Hosting the event in the middle of the AFL season would likely rule out the MCG and Perth’s Optus Stadium, and neither were listed in the official bid.
Queensland officials used the success of the 2018 Commonwealth Games as a shining example of the state’s ability to host major events.
The popularity of women’s soccer, which will feature a 32-team tournament for the first time at the 2023 World Cup, will expose Queensland to a global audience in the hundreds of millions and should add further credibility to a potential bid for the 2032 Olympics.
Initial projections estimated the event – also being held in the Southern Hemisphere for the first time – would inject almost $500 million into the Australian economy.
Queensland Tourism Minister Kate Jones said the state was poised to play a starring role at one of the world’s biggest sporting events.
“Queensland is absolutely in the box seat,” she said.
“We’ve worked very hard to build up Queensland’s reputation as a global hub for major sporting events.”
Mitchelton Football Club player Greta Liell-Cock said she was beyond excited.
“Just to even be in the atmosphere will be incredible,” she said. “(Football is) such a big part of my life so to share the passion with other girls is going to be amazing.”
Brisbane Roar and Matildas star Katrina Gorry said she could hardly contain her excitement during the announcement.
“I was just running around the house screaming,” she said.
“I haven’t had any complaints from the neighbours yet.”
The success of the Trans-Tasman proposal – cemented with a resounding win in the vote against Colombia, exercises some of the demons of the disastrous bid for the 2022 men’s World Cup which was infamously awarded to Qatar after Australia’s push gained just a single vote.
Originally published as Suncorp push to host World Cup final