Ballarat's big FIFA Women's World Cup opportunity

The City of Ballarat is one step closer to hosting an international team as part of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023. 

Ballarat is one of 35 shortlisted options in Australia that could potentially become a Team Base Camp (TBC) for an international squad, comprising of 24 metropolitan options across five Host Cities and 11 other regional centres. 

Of those, there will be 16 venues selected. 

New Zealand has 21 Team Base Camp options shortlisted to also host 16 Participating Member Associations (PMAs). 

If successful, the Mercure Ballarat Hotel & Convention Centre would accommodate a squad, with training to be conducted at the Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility at Morshead Park. 

Ballarat Mayor Cr Daniel Moloney said he was thrilled for Ballarat to be among the contenders to host an international team for a FIFA World Cup tournament. 

“We are very proud to have been shortlisted to become a Team Base Camp for what looms as a sensational event,” he said. 

“We know how incredible our soccer facilities are, we would love a chance for them to shine on the world stage. 

“With the Women’s World Cup set to be the biggest female sport event in history, it’s an amazing opportunity for the city.” 

It is expected 29 of the 32 Team Base Camp sites will be selected before the end of 2022, with qualified countries to tour the venues after the tournament draw is announced. 

Participating Member Associations will be able to submit their preference before FIFA confirms the sites. 

The three countries that will qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup via the Play-off Tournament in February 2023 will select their base camp after qualification. 

Appearing on the shortlist does not equate to a pairing’s automatic confirmation as a Team Base Camp. It simply means the venue has passed a thorough evaluation process and is eligible for selection by a competing nation. 

FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 is the first to be co-hosted, the first to be held in the South Hemisphere and the first with 32 teams – up from 24 in 2019. 

It is projected to become the biggest female sporting event in history. 

The full details of the list of proposed Team Base Camp Training Sites and confirmed Venue Specific Training Sites can be found on the FIFA website. 

Ballarat previously hosted Bahrain over the New Year period of 2014/15 for the 2015 Asian Cup.