This could be nothing. Then again it could also be the first evidence of what would likely be Canada's strongest competition for the 2015 Women's World Cup.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
The final paragraph of this Austrailian article about the awarding of the 2015 Asian championships Down Under reads as follows:
Still, to be fair to the FFA, getting the deal done was the key. And, if we can nab the women's World Cup as well in 2015, it won't completely erase the pain of 2022, but it will certainly go a long way.
The author, Sebastian Hassett of the Sydney Morning Herald, is so flippant in the line that you can't help but think that he's heard something.
If he has (and I asked him to clarify via Twitter. It being 1:30 a.m. there right now he has yet to respond) he's the first. Even though we are less than three months away from the announcement, FIFA has not released the names of the countries bidding. Bidding for the women's event is far less likely to be the target of corruption, but you would think FIFA might want to demonstrate a little transparency after the 2018/22 fiasco. Live and never learn, I guess.
If Australia is in the running Canada's task just got a lot harder. The Aussies are far more likely to support the event at a bigger commitment than Canada's $15 million. They have better stadiums already ready and their national team is about equal to Canada's.
That they were part of the 2022 bidding process might help, as the same voters that ignored them in favour of Qatar might feel a pull to give them a secondary prize.
The information I have been given does not suggest Australia is bidding, but we will watch this carefully.
Note: Another reference to the Aussie bid here.