Celebrations as Women’s World Cup games to be played here
The Advertiser 02 Apr 2021: 6.

SOCCER fans are rejoicing at the announcement that Adelaide will be a host city for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup – with hopes now pinned on securing a Matildas game.

The tournament will be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand in nine cities.

It is not yet known how many matches will be played at Coopers Stadium at Hindmarsh.

As flagged in the State Budget, the stadium will undergo a $45m upgrade – a commitment made with the goal of securing major events such as the World Cup.

Adelaide United Women’s Football Committee chairwoman Jodie van Deventer, said it was “ a momentous day for the city, the state but specifically women’s football”.

“To have a massive tournament on our doorstep provides a tremendous and unique opportunity and one (from which) we must maximise the positive outcomes,” she said.

“An event of this magnitude really has the potential to create change and further improve all aspects of women’s sport – especially around overhauling facilities at local clubs – while inspiring the next generation of young, aspiring footballers.” Sports Minister Corey Wingard said Adelaide could be a base for a number of teams and excitement among fans would be “through the roof”.

“The opportunity to grow the game in SA on the back of this project is going to be huge,” he said.

Coopers Stadium will have its capacity boosted from 16,500 to 22,000. The upgrade will overhaul changerooms, put a shade covering over the eastern grandstand and fully replace the current pitch surface.

There are also plans for new lighting and improved corporate and media areas. Premier Steven Marshall said FIFA’s choice of Australia for the World Cup had “inspired us to get ready in time”.

“It is a tired facility; it doesn’t have the changing facilities and spectator amenity that we are seeing in other stadiums right across the country,” Mr Marshall said.

He could not confirm how many games would be played at Coopers Stadium or wheththe Matildas would play in Adelaide. He said there was no back-up plan to move games to Adelaide Oval if the upgrade was not completed.

“We are absolutely convinced we will have the work completed in time for 2023.” Despite the upgrade, the stadium will not be FIFA-compliant for reasons including capacity, but an exemption has been granted.

Joining Adelaide as host cities are Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney and, across the ditch, Auckland, Dunedin, Hamilton and Wellington.

Football Australia president Chris Nikou said the tournament would be “the biggest sporting event on Australian soil since the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, showcasing Australia and New Zealand to a global audience of over one billion people”.

Adelaide United director Ian Smith was overjoyed.

“This is going to go way beyond soccer, it electrifies a country,” Mr Smith said. “It goes to the heart of communities. It is the world game and the world language.

“This announcement reflects the hard work of all involved in advocating to FIFA about why our fantastic venue should host matches. We’re confident an international event as big as this will leave a legacy for women’s football and women’s sport more broadly in this state.”