Wollongong City Council will support the region’s leading tourism body in its attempt to become a host city if Australia secures the 2023 Women’s FIFA World Cup.
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Greens councillor Mithra Cox and her colleagues voted for the council to throw its support behind Destination Wollongong’s expression of interest at Monday night’s council meeting.
The Football Federation Australia with the federal government announced a bid last year for Australia to host the international tournament.
Cr Cox believes Wollongong and Win Stadium are the ideal location and venue to host soccer fanatics.
“We are in a really good position to be a host city but it is important we are on the front foot and say we want it,” she said.
“Wollongong will be competing against other regional cities like Canberra, Newcastle, Geelong and Townsville.
“There will be a number of games in the five big cities in Australia but the rest of the games are up for grabs and it should be us.”
Cr David Brown said asked Cr Cox to amend her motion and support Destination Wollongong’s efforts, which were in partnership with Venues NSW, because it was usually the job of the tourism body to attract events to the city.
“Let’s be enthusiastic about this,” Cr Brown said. “Lets see if we can get a game, or games in the city. That would be great.”
Cr Brown said the council needed “have its eyes open” and know what it would cost to become a host city.
Cr Cox said the stadium was in good condition and would only need minor upgrades of permanent or temporary seating on the hill to make it compliant with FIFA requirements.
“Our stadium is the perfect size,” Cr Cox previously told the Mercury. “For most of the group games in the Women’s World Cup a stadium needs to seat 25,000 to 30,000 people.
“For example, the stadium at Homebush, is too big for those early games. WIN Stadium is perfect.
“If there is a world-class women’s football tournament here then Wollongong residents will get behind it.”
Cr Cox said the Wollongong Wolves soccer team pulled a large crowd at its games, as do A-League games when they are played at WIN Stadium and there were many successful A-League players, such as Caitlin Foord, who hail from the Illawarra.
There are currently no other official bidders to host the competition, however it is likely Japan, Columbia, South Africa, New Zealand and Thailand will place bids. Australia has a reasonable chance to outbid these nations.
The successful host country will be decided by FIFA in June at the Women’s World Cup in France.
To date no host cities have been named in the official Australian bid.
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