CANBERRA: Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) reaffirms the players’ support for the bid to host the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, following today’s announcement by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in Canberra.

Speaking after the announcement, PFA Player Relations Executive Kathryn Gill said hosting the World Cup would be an historic moment for the sport.

“Today’s announcement is an important step forward in the players’ efforts to revolutionise women’s football and reaffirms the enormous wave of support for women’s sport,” said the former Matildas captain.

“The women’s game has reached the point of being the largest participation sport for young girls. The Matildas are amongst the very best teams in world football and the W-League has the capacity to be a leading competition, both domestically and internationally.

“If we are to begin to leverage these strengths, and the many other competitive advantages of football, we must be bold in our ambitions for the sport. The women’s game must be a priority and today’s announcement illustrates the capacity of it to turbocharge Australian football.”

PFA Chief Executive John Didulica welcomed the Federal Government’s support of the bid.

“The goals of winning the World Cup and an Olympic Gold Medal are the ambitious targets that the players have set for the sport,” said Didulica. “Today’s announcement shows a growing alignment between the public’s hopes for the women’s game and those held by the players.

“Football offers greatness and international opportunity like no other. The Matildas pursuing football’s greatest prize on home soil would be a powerful symbol to inspire people across the country.

PFA Executive Committee Member and Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams said the bid had the full support of the players.

“This is the new world of women’s sport,” said Williams. “Winning the World Cup is our ambition and to do so on home soil would be incredible.

“Through the establishment of a genuine professional pathway for women, and the momentum that could come from hosting the World Cup, we can inspire the thousands of young girls across Australia dreaming of becoming the next generation of Matildas.”

MEDIA

Beau Busch | Player Relations and Communications Executive

PH: +61 (0) 432 763 485

E: beau@pfa.net.au