SYDNEY — Australia and New Zealand have launched a joint bid backed by both governments to bring the women's soccer World Cup to the southern hemisphere for the first time in 2023. The bid to host the women's World Cup, the first to feature 32 teams, was formally announced in Melbourne on Friday, a few hours before it was due to be lodged with the sport's global governing body FIFA in Switzerland. Japan, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and South Africa are also expected to join the race to host the tournament, while South and North Korea have touted a joint bid. This year's 24-team World Cup in France, won by the United States, set records for attendance and attracted unprecedented viewing figures on television.

Source: International New York Times December 13, 2019 01:07 UTC