Caitlin Foord can already envisage the moment Australia wins the World Cup at the MCG or ANZ Stadium.
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The Illawarra product would be competing for the fourth time on football’s grandest stage in the year 2023, but would be still yet to turn 30.
While it’s all just a dream at the moment, Foord, crowned the best young player of the World Cup in 2011 in Germany, believes success on their home turf is realistic, after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the Federal Government would back the bid on Tuesday.
“That's a massive goal we are all striving towards together,” Foord told the Mercury from Japan, after training with her club team, Vegalta Seltai. “And to do it at home in front of our family, friends and fans gives me goose bumps to even think about. It would honestly be a dream come true and more.”
While the Australian capital cities would undoubtedly host the major women’s World Cup preliminary and knock-out games, the door remains open for Wollongong.
Having previously hosted Matildas camps and games before, WIN Stadium would be on the radar to be a training base for a World Cup powerhouse, possible even Australia, given the proximity to Sydney.
It’s also expected Wollongong would be in the running for at least one preliminary game, if Australia’s World Cup bid is successful.
Knocked out of the Olympics tournament by hosts Brazil in a dramatic penalty shoot-out, Foord is highly motivated to push towards the World Cup in France in 2019. But the lure of playing at home in six years time is expected to ensure Foord, now 22, plays on.
“It's really exciting stuff, my fingers are definitely crossed we get to host it,” Foord said. “The majority of the girls in the team that would probably be our last World Cup, so it would be amazing to be able to play at home.”
In December, Foord, who has also played in the US, was named Asian Confederation player of the year.
She was part of Sydney FC’s W-League campaign last season. Shellharbour striker Michelle Heyman was at the official World Cup bid announcement in Canberra on Tuesday.