NEW ZEALAND WILL HOST FIRST FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP PLAY-OFF TOURNAMENT

(The Quiver) :New Zealand will host the first ever playoff tournament for the FIFA women’s world cup 2023 in February next year, New Zealand Football announced on Tuesday. The cities of Hamilton and Auckland will stage the matches between February 17 to 23.

The playoff will consists of 10 teams competing for the last three places up for the grabs to qualify for the Women’s World cup, which will be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand in July 2023.New competitions will provide an opportunity for more teams to play at the top level. FIFA Chief Women’s Football Officer Sarai Bareman said.”

The decision was taken in 2019 to expand the FIFA Women’s World Cup from 24 to 32 teams, has already had a significant impact on the wider growth and development of women’s game. More nations now have the chance to play on the world’s biggest stage and this all starts with the Play off Tournament, ” Bareman said. The format for the participation teams was first announced in December 2020. The 10 teams will come from Asia (2), Africa (2), North and Central America and the Caribbean. (2), South America (2), Europe (1) and Oceania (1)” I cannot wait for fans to get their first taste of what to expect later next year when the Play-off commences before the biggest women’s sporting event in the world kicks-off in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand on 20th July 2023.”

Two nations from Asia Thailand and Chinese Taipei have already confirmed their participation with the remaining eight teams to qualify for the Play-off Tournament through their continental tournaments.

China PR, Japan, Korea republic, Philippines, Vietnam, France, Spain, Sweden and Denmark have already secured their place at the 2023 Women’s World Cup and will join the two hosts nations- Australia and New Zealand.