SAFA withdraws from the race to host 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup

The South African Football Association (SAFA) will not proceed with a bid to host the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

It is understood that South Africa would not have met the technical requirements given the state of the women’s game in the country, particularly the lack of a fully professional club structure. Other factors are the ongoing energy crisis brought on by the ineptitude of Eskom, as well as a lack of government support for a bid of this nature. 

Fifa set a deadline of Friday (December 13 2019) by which they had to receive all bids to host the event. The governing body have confirmed that four bids were received.

Two South American nations in Brazil and Colombia have entered bids alongside those of Japan and a joint bid from Australia and New Zealand. 

“We resolved that as an association we should not proceed with the bid,” Acting CEO of SAFA Gay Mokoena told website SportBusiness.com. “We want to strengthen our women’s national league first before we invite the world to come and play. Definitely, we will consider doing 2027 and we think by that time, we will have a stronger women’s league and a much stronger women’s national team.”

Fifa begin their assessment process almost immediately with the final decision expected to be made in June 2020 at council meeting in Addis Ababa.

The football governing body have encouraged joint bids like that of Australia and New Zealand and had expected to see a co-operative effort from South Korea and their neighbours to the North. Diplomatic relations between the countries have worsened in recent weeks though and a bid was not forthcoming.

Australia and New Zealand’s bid is considered an early frontrunner with both countries federations enjoying full government support for their bid.

Chris Nikou, president of Football Federation Australia, said: “The decision to host the Fifa Women’s World Cup in 2023 in Australia and New Zealand, two leading nations in the promotion of women’s football and gender equality, will accelerate the game at both the grassroots and professional levels, lighting a path for future generations of footballers, administrators, and fans in Asia-Pacific.” 

The Fifa Women’s World Cup

The Fifa Women’s World Cup was first held in 1991 and has been staged every four years since the inaugural tournament.

Six countries have hosted the Women’s World Cup. China and the United States have each hosted the tournament twice, while Canada, France, Germany, and Sweden have each hosted it once.

The tournament has never been staged in Africa or South America.