Wollongong has been included as one of the major venues to be headquarters for a Women's World Cup powerhouse nation in 2023, after Australia and New Zealand secured the hosting rights on Friday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The famous beachside hill actually counts against WIN Stadium, as only seated areas are included in FIFA criteria, meaning it has been ruled out of hosting a World Cup game.
However, the omission could actually work in the Illawarra's favour in the push to be a training camp for one of the top countries in the weeks leading up to the tournament.
As part of the Football Federation Australia and New Zealand Football submission, rated 4.1 out of a possible five in the bid evaluation, Wollongong was included as a key location, given the city is close to Sydney, with the World Cup final likely to be played at a revamped ANZ Stadium.
WIN Stadium has been the base for a number of international teams in recent years, including the Matildas, currently ranked seventh in the world, during Tom Sermanni's time in charge. Sermanni is now the New Zealand women's coach.
WIN Stadium has also hosted the A-League All Stars in 2017, featuring a scoreless draw with the Young Socceroos in the lead-up to their clash with Juventus in Sydney.
A middle-eastern Asian Confederation clash between Iraq and Iran was played in 2015, while Wollongong has also been the venue for W-League fixtures and FFA Cup games between the Wolves and Central Coast and again against Sydney FC.
FIFA and FFA officials inspected the stadium during the World Cup bid process.
"We tick a lot of boxes," Destination Wollongong general manager Mark Sleigh said. "Unfortunately the hill puts us outside the playing criteria, but we have a lot to offer.
"There was a lot of work put in to make a submission as part of the bid and I'm sure the region would love to have some of the world's best call Wollongong home in the lead-up to the tournament."
The 2023 World Cup presents Illawarra junior Caitlin Foord with her best chance of glory at her fourth attempt. Foord, 25, won the FIFA young player of the tournament award in Germany in 2011.
Now playing in England with Arsenal, Foord has become a key attacking weapon for the Matildas, who suffered recent heartbreak with penalty shoot-out losses to Norway (2019 World Cup) and Brazil (2016 Olympics).
Subscribe to our newsletters
Tim Barrow
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
