Tokyo (AFP)
Japan has renounced its candidacy for the organization of the Women's World Cup in 2023, the Japanese federation (JFA) announced Monday, a few days before the official decision of Fifa.
"I feel resistance against the organization of two major events in the same country in the space of a short time, resistance reinforced by the impact of the coronavirus," said the president of the JFA in a press release, in reference to the Tokyo Games postponed by one year to 2021 due to the pandemic.
He also noted that the Southeast Asian Football Federation has already postponed support for the joint bid of Australia and New Zealand, and that Japan has hosted several FIFA tournaments in recent years. years.
Japan's withdrawal leaves room for a duel between Colombia and the southern candidacy, presented as a favorite.
This decision comes a few weeks after the renunciation of Brazil because of the austerity imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Fifa must announce Thursday the winner of a battle reduced from 10 to 2 candidates.
The Ladies' World Cup, the last edition of which in France was attended by more than a billion people, goes from a format of 24 to 32 teams to gain even more popularity.
Japan is to host the Olympic Games from July 23, 2021, but some specialists doubt the total control of the pandemic by then.
© 2020 AFP