Delays to the development of a $24.5m Home Of Football in Canberra's north could cost the ACT an opportunity to play a role in the 2023 FIFA Women's Football World Cup.
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Canberra was not one of the nine host cities across Australia and New Zealand named on Thursday, after the ACT Government turned its nose up at the $1m per match price tag when offered to be a part of the Australia-New Zealand bid for the tournament in late 2019.
But Capital Football hopes the ACT will still play a World Cup role either as a training base, or as a host for warm-up games.
That likely hinges on Canberra's Home of Football development, which has stalled as the ACT Government awaits the findings of a heritage assessment on the 28 hectares of land allocated for the project between Throsby and Forde.
Community consultation won't begin until the completion of a heritage assessment, while Capital Football is still working through the final stages of its development plan.
Both the ACT Government and Capital Football were optimistic the Home of Football would be available in time for the World Cup, scheduled to begin in July, 2023.
"They are all possibilities to be determined closer to the tournament itself, and that's certainly an area we're interested in," Capital Football chief Phil Brown said.
"It would've been great to have some content here, but we're still really excited for the tournament to be in Australia in 2023.
"Had we been in the mix, there's no guarantee we would've been selected in any case. Tasmania in the mix and they've missed out, as have some other venues in NSW."
Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane have been elected as World Cup host cities by FIFA, as have Auckland, Dunedin, Hamilton and Wellington in New Zealand.
A lack of available facilities in the territory along with the tournament prize tag dissuaded the Andrew Barr Government to throw its hat in the ring as part of the bidding process.
MORE CANBERRA FOOTBALL
Had Canberra Stadium been offered as a venue, it would've been unavailable for use by the Canberra Raiders and ACT Brumbies for a 12-week period.
Instead of bidding for World Cup matches, the Barr Government pledged $20m to build a new home for football in the capital. The final $4.5m of that project is being funded by Capital Football.
"The community consultation process can't commence until the finalisation of the heritage assessment and completion of all preliminary planning documentation," an ACT Government spokesperson said.
"The project is still in the planning phase. Subject to all necessary approvals and works being completed, the ACT Government is still working towards the Throsby Home of Football being considered as a potential training field option [for the Women's World Cup]."
Brown said he was satisfied with the Government's commitment to soccer in Canberra, despite the non-bid for the Women's World Cup.
"To bring a Socceroos game in October 2019, and the commitment to bring a Matildas game. . .along with the junior Matildas camp I think is important," Brown said.
"As is the commitment and contribution to building the home of football."
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
