FIFA starts bidding process for 2020 U-17, U-20 Women’s World Cups

(Via FIFA) – As France and Uruguay gear up to host this year’s FIFA U-20 and U-17 Women’s World Cups, respectively, FIFA has today launched the bidding process for the 2020 editions of both competitions.

FIFA’s member associations will have until August 24, 2018 to declare their interest in hosting the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2020 and/or the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2020 by submitting the completed and duly executed declaration form to FIFA.

FIFA will send by August 31, 2018 the bidding and hosting documents to those member associations that have declared an interest, with member associations having until September 28, 2018 to re-confirm their interest by submitting the signed terms and conditions.

January 18, 2019 will be the deadline for the respective member associations to submit their definitive bids, including all signed bidding and hosting documents (hosting agreement, host city agreements, government guarantees, etc.). The hosts of both the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2020 and the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2020 are expected to be appointed by the FIFA Council in the first quarter of 2019 (a different host will be appointed for each competition).

Since its launch in 2002, the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup has become a springboard for some of the most talented players in the women’s game, as confirmed by the list of adidas Golden Ball winners: Christine Sinclair (2002), Marta (2004), Ma Xiaoxu (2006), Sydney Leroux (2008), Alexandra Popp (2010), Dzsenifer Marozsan (2012), Asisat Oshoala (2014) and Hina Sugita (2016).

The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup has been played since 2008 and the list of adidas Golden Ball winners also features some of the finest players of recent years, such as Mana Ibawuchi (2008), Yeo Min-ji (2010), Griedge Mbock Bathy (2012), Hina Sugita (2014) and Fuka Nagano (2016).

“The fact that the previous editions of the FIFA U-20 and U-17 Women’s World Cups have featured such talented players is not a mere coincidence,” said FIFA’s Chief Women’s Football Officer, Sarai Bareman. “Both competitions play a key role as part of FIFA’s objective to promote women’s football around the world and to give young talent a world-class setting to play against the best in their age group. For the host country, it’s also a unique opportunity to further develop women’s football at different levels thanks to the tournament legacy, starting from infrastructure, grassroots and media awareness.”