Lausanne (AFP)

After several packages, Fifa will decide on Thursday the allocation of the World-2023 ladies between only two candidates, Colombia and a ticket a priori favorite Australia / New Zealand, during a meeting which must also discuss the international calendar and the aid fund created during the health crisis.

They left nine and are only two ... Still numerous in April 2019 during the unveiling of the candidate countries, the list of applicants presented this Thursday (3:00 p.m.) at the Fifa Council has shrunk like skin. It must be said that the task will be heavy to organize in July-August 2023 this World Ladies which will increase to 32 teams, against 24 in 2019 in France. And this in a very uncertain economic context, due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

After the package of Brazil at the beginning of the month and then a final withdrawal, that of Japan, announced on Monday, there are only two candidates left, Colombia and an Australia / New Zealand alliance, submitted Thursday to the vote of the 37 members of the Council of Fifa, gathered in videoconference.

- Australia and New Zealand highly rated -

Published on June 10, the evaluation report clearly places the joint Australia / New Zealand application in the lead, with an average score of 4.1 out of 5, compared with 2.8 in Colombia. Then still in the running, Japan had obtained the score of 3.9 out of 5.

The Australia / New Zealand bid "offers a range of quality options in terms of sports and general infrastructure. It also appears to be the most favorable from a business point of view," said the evaluation committee. This austral world would be contested in 7 cities in Australia and 5 in New Zealand, and in 13 stadiums of which only one to be built, in Sydney.

The Colombian record is based on ten cities and ten existing stadiums, but including that of Cucuta (northeast) must undergo "major renovations".

First downside, according to the evaluation report, infrastructure "meets the minimum requirements requiring investment" but "there is a clear risk that the necessary improvements will not be made".

Another major concern for Fifa is security because "although the terrorist threat has dropped significantly, doubts remain as to the potential impact of crime on the competition's stakeholders".

So many questions that have raised criticism from the South American Confederation (Comnebol).

- The international calendar on the menu -

The other big issue on the table on Thursday concerns men's football: an adaptation of the international calendar, due to the long interruption of competitions due to the coronavirus, also appears on the menu of the meeting before a virtual press conference of President Gianni Infantino scheduled around 6 p.m. (4 p.m. GMT).

Among the thorny points, the African Cup of Nations (CAN), scheduled for next January in Cameroon but including several eliminatory matches remaining to be played will be difficult to be scheduled.

The CAN could therefore be moved to the summer of 2021, but it would then enter into competition with the Euro, which is offset by one year. However, according to several sources, many voices are pushing for the CAN to return in the summer to avoid clubs being deprived of their players in the middle of the season.

In delicacy with Africa, Infantino could be content with recommendations to the African Football Confederation (CAF) whose Council meets on June 30.

The successor to Sepp Blatter will probably also put back on the table his Club World Cup, scheduled for 2021 in China and victim of the one-year postponement of Euro-2020. If it seems unlikely that it will be held in summer 2022, before the World Cup scheduled for the same year in Qatar (in November and December), it could take place in 2023, to coincide with a possible re-election of Infantino.

Finally, Fifa must also give details on Thursday of the global football assistance fund, which should give rise to the payment of subsidies to certain federations, according to a complex distribution key.

© 2020 AFP