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Jonathan White

Japan will pull out of its bid to host the Fifa Women’s World Cup in 2023, according to reports from the country’s Kyodo News agency.
Citing a source close to the bid, Kyodo said Japan would withdraw its bid, while the Japanese Football Association called a press conference for Monday evening.
Fifa’s decision on the 2023 host will be made on Thursday, with the joint bid between Australia and New Zealand expected to win.
Colombia also bid for the right to host the tournament but they were given the lowest ranking by Fifa’s evaluation of the bids. The South American bid scored 2.8 out of a maximum score of five. Japan scored 3.9 and the joint bid scored 4.1.

Both Colombia and Conmebol complained to Fifa, with the game’s governing body responding in a four-page letter.
Fifa secretary general Fatma Samoura replied that “all steps were taken to conduct the evaluation in a highly objective manner,” in a letter seen by Reuters.

Japan held the men’s Fifa World Cup in a joint bid with South Korea in 2002 and are set to host the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games next summer.
The 2023 event will feature 32 teams for the first time.


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Fifa

Japan withdraw bid to host 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup: report

Japanese fans react as they watch a broadcast of the Fifa World Cup 2018 group H match between Japan and Senegal at a sports bar in Tokyo. Photo: Reuters

Saki Kumagai of Japan, winner of AFC Women's Player of the Year at the AFC Annual Awards presentation held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) in Wan Chai. 02DEC19 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

Japan women's soccer team head coach Asako Takakura directs her team players during their training session for the FIFA Women's World Cup, in Narashino, Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo May 22, 2019. Picture taken May 22, 2019. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. JAPAN OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN JAPAN.

Hong Kong women’s football manager Betty Wong says Audit report ‘unfair’ to focus on Fifa ranking

Aspiring nine-year-old footballer Annabel Yue with Betty Wong at the Football Training Centre in Tseung Kwan O. Photo: David Wong

The Hong Kong women's team player Wai Yuen-ting at a conference for the 2020 Lunar New Year Cup.

(200213) -- SYDNEY, Feb. 13, 2020 (Xinhua) -- Ma Jun (L) of China vies with Tameka Yallop of Australia during the Women's Olympic Football Tournament 2020 Qualifiers match between Australia and China in Sydney, Australia, Feb. 13, 2020. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)

(centre) Betty Wong Yeuk-ling, the women's football manager of Hong Kong Football Association, at the Hong Kong Jockey Club HKFA Football Training Centre in Tseung Kwan O. 30SEP19 SCMP / David Wong

AFC star Saki Kumagai has brought World Cup and Champions League winning mentality to Asian women’s football

Japan and Olympique Lyonnais star Saki Kumagai (left) wins AFC women's player of the year and poses with Al Sadd SC coach Xavi Hernandez, who receives the men's player of the year award on behalf of Akram Afif. Photo: AFP

(COMBO) This combination of file photographs created on November 26, 2019, shows (L) Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi controlling the ball during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and RC Celta de Vigo at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on November 9, 2019 and United States' forward Megan Rapinoe (R) fighting for the ball during the 2019 Women's World Cup quarter-final football match between France and United States at The Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on June 28, 2019. - The Ballon d'Or ceremony will take place on December 2, 2019 in Paris. (Photos by Josep LAGO and FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

FILE PHOTO: Britain Football Soccer - Olympique Lyonnais v Paris Saint Germain - UEFA Women's Champions League Final - Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales - 1/6/17 Lyon's Saki Kumagai celebrates with the trophy after winning the UEFA Women's Champions League Final Reuters / Darren Staples Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY./File Photo

AFC player of the year: Xavi and Gianni Infantino in Hong Kong to crown Japan’s Saki Kumagai and Qatar’s Akram Afif as top Asian players

Japan’s Saki Kumagai is all smiles after winning the AFC Women’s Player of the Year award at the AFC Annual Awards in Wan Chai. Photos: K.Y. Cheng

(right) Saki Kumagai of Japan, winner of AFC Women's Player of the Year at the AFC Annual Awards presentation held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) in Wan Chai. 02DEC19 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

Timothy Fok Tsun-ting (centre) receives the AFC Member Association of the Year (Developing) from AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa (right) at the AFC Annual Awards presentation held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) in Wan Chai. 02DEC19 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

Fifa Women’s World Cup: England legend Ian Wright backs Lionesses in semi-final battle with US

Steph Houghton of England celebrates after the quarter-final win against Norway at the 2019 Fifa Women’s World Cup in Le Havre, France. Photo: Xinhua

Ian Wright, former English football player for Arsenal, photographed at the Royal Pacific Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui. 02JUL19 SCMP / Tory Ho

(190628) -- LE HAVRE (FRANCE), June 28, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Players of England celebrate scoring during the quarterfinal between England and Norway at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in Le Havre, France, on June 27, 2019. England won 3-0. (Xinhua/Cheng Tingting)

01 July 2019, France, Lyon: US Megan Rapinoe grabs her hair during the training session for the USA women national soccer team ahead of Tuesday's FIFA Women's World Cup semi final soccer match against England. Photo: Sebastian Gollnow/dpa

Fifa Women’s World Cup 2019: China coach Jia Xiuquan takes responsibility for Italy defeat as fans call for his sacking

Dejected China players walk off after their defeat to Italy. Photo: Xinhua

(190626) -- MONTPELLIER, June 26, 2019 (Xinhua) -- (From L to R) China's head coach Jia Xiuquan, players Wu Haiyan, Han Peng, Wang Shuang and Wang Shanshan cheer before the round of 16 match between China and Italy at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in Montpellier, France, June 25, 2019. China lost 0-2. (Xinhua/Ding Xu)

(190626) -- MONTPELLIER, June 26, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Liu Shanshan (R) of China vies with Valentina Giacinti of Italy during the round of 16 match between China and Italy at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in Montpellier, France, June 25, 2019. China lost 0-2. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

(190626) -- MONTPELLIER, June 26, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Players of Italy celebrate after the round of 16 match between China and Italy at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in Montpellier, France, June 25, 2019. China lost 0-2. (Xinhua/Ding Xu)

(190626) -- MONTPELLIER, June 26, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Milena Bertolini (R), head coach of Italy, reacts during the round of 16 match between China and Italy at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in Montpellier, France, June 25, 2019. China lost 0-2. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)

(190625) -- MONTPELLIER (FRANCE), June 25, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Players of Italy celebrate scoring during the round of 16 match between Italy and China at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in Montpellier, France, on June 25, 2019. Italy won 2-0 and advanced to the quarterfinals. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

(190626) -- MONTPELLIER, June 26, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Li Ying (L) of China vies with Sara Gama of Italy during the round of 16 match between China and Italy at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in Montpellier, France, June 25, 2019. China lost 0-2. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)

(190626) -- MONTPELLIER, June 26, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Wang Shuang (R) of China competes during the round of 16 match between China and Italy at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in Montpellier, France, June 25, 2019. China lost 0-2. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

(190626) -- MONTPELLIER, June 26, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Peng Shimeng, goalie of China, reacts after failing to block a shot during the round of 16 match between China and Italy at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in Montpellier, France, June 25, 2019. China lost 0-2. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Sport

Football


Joint bid from Australia and New Zealand now the overwhelming favourite to win at Thursday’s vote
JFA call a press conference for Monday following report in Kyodo News



Joint bid from Australia and New Zealand now the overwhelming favourite to win at Thursday’s vote as JFA call a press conference for Monday following report in Kyodo News.


Japan

New Zealand

Australia

Japan withdraw bid to host 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup: report

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Joint bid from Australia and New Zealand now the overwhelming favourite to win at Thursday’s vote JFA call a press conference for Monday following report in Kyodo News

Joint bid from Australia and New Zealand now the overwhelming favourite to win at Thursday’s vote

JFA call a press conference for Monday following report in Kyodo News