Tasmania is one step closer to hosting teams at next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, with three venues selected among FIFA’s team base camp options.
Lightwood Park in Kingston, and Churchill Park and Birch Avenue in Launceston form part of the 35 strong list of Australian options for visiting teams to choose from.
Football Tasmania CEO Matt Bulkeley said the prospect of hosting international teams in one of the globe’s most watched sporting events was tremendously exciting for Tasmanian football, and as a state more broadly.
“The FIFA Women’s World Cup is the third largest sporting tournament in the world and it’s great that Tasmania has this chance to be a part of it with three of our venues shortlisted to be team base camps,” he said.
“With so many eyes on the tournament, the opportunities for Tasmania are huge, whether that’s for our young footballers watching the best of the best, or the exposure our state will get to an international audience.
“We’d like to again thank the Tasmanian Government for funding vital upgrades at each venue in the lead up to FIFA’s selection process.
“These upgrades have given Tasmania the best possible chance of capitalising on the enormous legacy promised by having the World Cup in Australia.
“We’d also like to thank the Federal Government for its investment at Lightwood Park and taking that venue to the next level.
“We remain confident of securing further funding for the northern venues, including Valley Road in Devonport.”
Mr Bulkeley said that despite missing out on shortlisting, Valley Road in Devonport was still in contention to host teams before the official team base camp period commenced.