Dates for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ were confirmed by the FIFA Council on the eve of the 71st FIFA Congress on Friday.

In keeping with the hosting period set in the Bid Book, the tournament down under will officially take place from 20 July to 20 August 2023, with Eden Park in Auckland hosting the first match and culminating in the Final at Stadium Australia in Sydney.

Adding to a tournament of firsts, 2023 will be the first time the tournament will be played in July / August with previous FIFA Women’s World Cups held as early as June and as late as September (2003 & 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup ) and November (1991 FIFA Women’s World Cup).

With the 2023 AFC Asian Cup final and Africa Cup of Nations final due to conclude just prior to the opening match, the July / August period will see all football eyes turn on Australia and New Zealand as the world’s best female footballers vie for the prestigious trophy.

As well as the first FIFA Women’s World Cup in the southern hemisphere, the eighth edition of the tournament will see an expansion to 32 teams competing in the biggest women’s sporting event in the world, with more matches than ever before for fans to enjoy.

Qualification for the tournament will commence later in 2021, with more nations involved than in previous years and a new play-off tournament to increase the chances to join the biggest party in 2023.

The new play-off tournament for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ will be held from 17 to 23 February 2023, also hosted by Australia & New Zealand.

The Council also approved dates for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2022™ (11-30 October 2022), and FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Costa Rica 2022™ (10-28 August 2022).

The 2022 AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup and 2022 AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cups are the qualifying tournaments for the respective World Cups.