Scarlett Hurst
(Photo: Scarlett Hurst)
Key Points:
- The FIFA Women’s World Cup was announced to be hosted by Australia and New Zealand in 2023
- Newcastle will be one of the places to host games during the competition
- The world-class event is expected to boost the sporting communities around the Hunter
In what is an uncertain time for all sport, the Newcastle sporting community has received a huge boost. It was announced that Newcastle would be one of the host cities for the FIFA 2023 Women’s World Cup. The joint bid from Australia and New Zealand was announced in June and will be a huge opportunity for the town in placing them on the international sporting map.
Newcastle Jets goalkeeper, Claire Coehlo is excited to be having this particular competition played at home and says that it is going to be great for the Newcastle area.
“As a professional player, the World Cup coming to Newcastle and it being a host city here is something that is a great opportunity for the Newcastle area.”
Claire Coehlo
McDonald Jones Stadium, listed in Australia and New Zealand’s AsOne 2023 Campaign bid as ‘Hunter Stadium’, is one of thirteen venues to be involved in the World Cup tournament. Newcastle is expected to hold several group games, knockout fixtures and most likely a quarter final match.
This will be arguably the biggest sporting event that the venue has ever facilitated and W-League player Cohelo, says that this is something that is very well deserved for the sporting community of Newcastle.
“For Newcastle to be a host city is really an achievement and a great reflection of the hard work that the Newcastle people have done to make this place an attraction for large sporting events.”
Claire Coehlo
With this particular competition being hosted on our shores, it is expected to promote female sport across the country, boost female participation rates in football, as well as show girls and women that it is possible to be a successful professional footballer.
“It’s going to inspire those young females and young girls who are deciding what they want to do and what they want to be, and how they want to be a part of sport, and shows them that it is well and truly okay to be a female who is powerful and athletic.”
Claire Coehlo
Although the next focus for Australian women’s national football is the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, anticipation in the city of Newcastle for the FIFA World Cup has already begun. After 1.12 billion people tuned into the 2019 tournament, they cannot wait to showcase the Hunter region to the world.
(Credit: Scarlett Hurst)