‘DISAPPOINTED’: TASSIE‘S WOMEN’S WORLD CUP SNUB

THE state has been snubbed from hosting teams at Training Base Camps, but Football Tasmania will aggressively pursue other options to ensure the Apple Isle isn’t shut out of the Women’s World Cup.

Kington’s Lightwood Park and Launceston’s Churchill Park and Birch Avenue were among 35 options shortlisted to host teams at Training Base Camps (TBCs) during the tournament in Australia and New Zealand next year, but didn’t make FIFA’s finals cut of 29.

Football Tasmania CEO Matt Bulkeley said it was important Tasmania had a viable presence in the biggest football tournament ever held in Australia, and hoped the state could secure rights to host teams in pre-tournament camps, or even stage practice games.

“That would be our expectation, really. We believe it’s really important Tasmania has a tangible part in the Women’s World Cup,” he said.

“The mainland states all have host cities and base camps, we would like to think we can have involvement through these avenues.

“Who knows when another Women’s World Cup will be in Australia? It won’t be any time soon.

“Teams could head to a pretournament camp a couple of weeks beforehand, then go to their base camp from there. We’re really pushing hard for that opportunity, as well as pre-tournament matches.

“We know most teams, if not all, will want to play games, and we think there’s a good opportunity for that to occur in Tassie.” Tasmania’s three shortlisted TBC venues are all undergoing significant upgrades, using funding provided by the state and federal governments and Kingborough Council, which Bulkeley hopes will be completed before local seasons begin.

State Sports Minister Nic Street still holds out hope a Tasmania venue will be chosen as a TBC by a team yet to qualify for the tournament.

“We are disappointed that no Tasmanian sites have been chosen yet as base camps for the FIFA 2023 Women’s World Cup,” he said.

“We left no stone unturned in our efforts to secure base camps for the tournament, providing significant investment into four key soccer facilities around the state which led to three facilities being shortlisted by FIFA as potential base camp locations.

“The decision on where the competing countries would be based for the tournament was made by the management of each competing team. There are still three countries that can qualify for the tournament, so we’re still in the mix and hopeful that one of those countries will select Tasmania as its base camp location.

“Regardless, the facility upgrades currently underway at the four soccer facilities will help to grow the game at the grassroots level, and benefit community clubs well into the future.”

New lighting and groundwork is in the works for Churchill Park and Birch Avenue, while Lightwood Park will undergo a major overhaul including lighting upgrades, new changerooms, referee rooms and medical rooms.