Sydney (AFP)

"Our candidacy ticks a lot of boxes", assures AFP Chris Nikou, boss of the Australian football federation which hopes to win Thursday the co-organization of the Women's World Cup-2023 with New Zealand, ten years after an aborted Australian candidacy for the 2022 Men's World Cup.

For the president of the Australian Federation (FFA), "infrastructure, equipment, heritage or commercial spinoffs for Fifa" should give a decisive advantage to the southern candidacy.

After Japan's withdrawal on Monday, the latest in a series of withdrawals, the two countries will face Thursday only one opponent, Colombia. Good news for Australia and New Zealand, the South Americans had received a lower rating (2.8 points out of 5) from Fifa than the Nippons (3.9), themselves less well rated than the Oceanians (4.1).

Among the strengths of the latter, the body noted "a range of quality options in terms of sports and general infrastructure" and a "financial commitment guaranteed by the two countries".

Opposite, the Colombian Football Federation and Conmebol (South American Football Confederation) denounced in a letter an evaluation comprising according to them "erroneous and discriminatory conclusions on three aspects of vital importance."

Beware, however, not to sell the skin of the bear too quickly: in 2010 also, the atmosphere was optimistic before Australia (which then applied without its neighbor) won only one voice for the organization of the Men's World-2022, attributed to Qatar.

A rout all the more bitter that millions of dollars of public money had been spent in vain, for a fight whose Qatari winner still carries today a sulphurous reputation, in particular following the accusations of corruption at Fifa.

- 2010 and 2020, "apples and oranges" -

"Compare the two eras, the previous candidacy and this one, I think that amounts to comparing apples and oranges", tries to reassure Mr. Nikou. "Fifa has been adamant about the transparency of the procedure, a fair and open procedure."

The change of heads at the top of the instance (Gianni Infantino replaced Sepp Blatter as president) is also likely to reassure him.

The award of the Mondial-2023 comes at a pivotal moment: the last World Cup in France was attended by more than a billion people, an audience that was unimaginable a few years ago.

The 2023 edition will be the first to bring together 32 teams, against 24 previously, in order to further increase the popularity of the female side of the sport, long crushed by men's competitions.

"A joint World Cup would send a clear message to the Pacific Islands about the rise of women's sport, and certainly give them role models to work with to advance women's fights in general," said Nikou .

- Government support -

Among these fights, the fight for equal pay figures prominently, while even the American world champions, led by the emblematic Megan Rapinoe, have so far failed to obtain a remuneration equivalent to that of the male selection.

The two Oceanian giants are rather good students in the matter, which could benefit them Thursday.

"We embody the values ​​that are part of the great sporting goals of Fifa", which wants to reach the 60 million mark in 2026, certifies Mr. Nikou.

"Australia and New Zealand are also great places to visit," added the FFA boss. "We hope that our candidacy is convincing in all its dimensions".

In addition to their experience in major events, such as the Olympic Games or the Rugby World Cup, the duo can count on the support of Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and the governments concerned.

"Football is the game that brings us all together," wrote Jacinda Ardern and Scott Morrison, the New Zealand and Australian Prime Ministers, in a letter to Fifa. "We sincerely hope that a World Cup in Australia and New Zealand will bring us all together again in 2023."

Other important arguments: the stadiums of the 12 host cities are already built, with the exception of a stadium to be delivered in 2022 in Sydney.

If we win Thursday, "we would put together the best Women's World Cup in history," swears Nikou.

The wallet of a million and a half spectators hoped would not contradict it: tickets would sell from just 5 dollars (4.4 euros).

© 2020 AFP