SA in hot race to stage 2023 women's World Cup

Cape Town - As the curtain was drawn on a highly successful 2019 women's World Cup in France, attention immediately turned to the next instalment in 2023.

The 2023 women's World Cup will be the ninth edition. The tournament is once again expected to involve 24 national teams, including that of the host nation, assuming the current format is maintained.

However, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has proposed an expansion from 24 to 32 teams as well as doubling the tournament's prize money.

At the 2019 women's World Cup, a total of $30 million was on offer, with the champions, the United States, picking up $4 million.

As it currently stands, there are nine bids from 10 countries to host the 2023 women's World Cup - including one from South Africa.

South Africa successfully hosted the 2010 men's Soccer World Cup.

The other bidders are: Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea/North Korea (joint bid).

The date set aside for the host confirmation is March 20, 2020.

The women's World Cup has never been hosted on the African continent.

Winners of the women's World Cup to date:

1991 - United States

1995 - Norway

1999 - United States

2003 - Germany

2007 - Germany

2011 - Japan

2015 - United States

2019 - United States