TOKYO (AP) — Japan pulled out of bidding to host soccer’s 2023 Women’s World Cup on Monday, leaving the top-rated joint bid by Australia and New Zealand a clear favorite in the FIFA vote.
Japan and Australia are both members of the Asian Football Confederation and were likely to split the region’s support in a vote Thursday by members of FIFA’s ruling council.
Colombia is now the only rival to Australia and New Zealand, which scored 4.1 points from a maximum five in a FIFA evaluation this month when the South American candidate got 2.