Joint German-Belgian-Dutch bid launched for Women’s World Cup 2027 hosting
October 19 – Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands have unveiled plans for a joint bid to host the Women’s World Cup in 2027.
World Tournaments
Gold Cup draw groups US and Canada, Qatar matched against Central Americans
September 29 – Qatar, guesting in the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup next summer, were handed a favourable group draw that kept the AFC visitors away from the local confederation heavy hitters of Mexico, the US and Costa Rica in the opening group stages.
Asian Cup Champions Qatar to guest at Gold Cup in US
By Paul Nicholson
September 3 – Qatar will play as a guest nation in the next two editions of the Gold Cup in the US , the blue riband national team event for Concacaf’s member countries, in 2021 and 2023. The Asian Cup Champions are also scheduled to guest at Conmebol’s Copa America in 2021 as they prepare for their own hosting of the 2022 World Cup.
Concacaf expands its Gold Cup with new knock-out round and updated draw structure
By Paul Nicholson
September 3 – Concacaf has further expanded its bi-annual Gold Cup with a series of changes that increase member nation participation and the integrity of the competition structure.
100 years since Spain’s first football team took Olympic silver – despite quarter-final loss
By David Owen
September 1 – It is exactly 100 years since, Spain, nowadays one of the powers of the global game, appeared in its first international football tournament.
2021 Gold Cup revamped with preliminary 12-team qualifiers to be centralised in US
July 28 – Concacaf has scheduled the 2021 Gold Cup in the US for next July, and in a unique revamp of qualification – and to take account of lost international windows due to the Covid pandemic – the preliminary rounds will see the 12 competing teams centralised in the US.
Aus-NZ bid wins Women’s World Cup 2023 bid with 22-13 vote
Sobaclieu.com
June 25 – Odds-on favourites Australia and New Zealand won the right today to stage the 2023 women’s World Cup, beating outsiders Colombia in a two-horse race to make history by bringing the tournament to the southern hemisphere for the first time.
WWC 2023 vote: UEFA bucks bid report strong-arming members to vote for Colombia
By Andrew Warshaw
June 25 – The vote later today for the right to stage the 2023 women’s World Cup is likely to be much closer than anticipated after it emerged that UEFA has controversially called on its nine FIFA Council members to back outsiders Colombia, according to sources close to the bid process.
Aussie and NZ governments promise passion, legacy and pride if awarded 2023 WWC
Sobaclieu.com
By Andrew Warshaw
June 23 – The pain still lingers but all good things come to those who wait. Ten years after the humiliation of being trounced when bidding for the 2022 World Cup, Australia are poised to be granted what could arguably be described as the next best thing – the women’s equivalent. Even if it means sharing with neighbours New Zealand.
Japan pull out of WWC 2023 hosting leaving Aus-NZ and Colombia bids in shoot-out
By Paul Nicholson
June 22 – Japan have withdrawn their bid to host the Women’s World Cup 2023 leaving just two bids still in contention for the blue riband women’s event, with the joint Australia-New Zealand bid being the clear favourite against the submission from Colombia.
Joint Aussie-Kiwi bid wins top marks from FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 inspectors
June 11 – The prospects of an Australasian women’s World Cup in 2023 has received a significant boost after the joint Australia-New Zealand bid received a higher rating by FIFA’s evaluation team than rivals Japan and Colombia.
Brazil drop bid for 2023 Women’s World Cup hosting, passing support to Colombia
June 8 – Even though the tournament is not for another three years, Brazil has withdrawn its bid to host the 2023 Women’s World Cup, saying it cannot offer FIFA the financial assurances needed as a result of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
FIFA Council to vote on 2023 Women’s World Cup hosts in June
May 18 – The 2023 Women’s World Cup host will be picked by FIFA’s ruling council on June 25.
South Korea and Australia call for age limit to be lifted to U24 for 2021 Olympics
March 27 – South Korea and Australia have called on FIFA to raise the age limit for the Olympic football tournament in 2021 with a view to keeping the players that helped participants qualify eligible for the tournament.
Pandemic forces postponement of Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
By David Owen
March 24 – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has finally bowed to the inevitable and postponed the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.