Celebrations Down Under after successful World Cup bid

Reuters Videos
Updated

VIDEO SHOWS: VARIOUS OF FOOTBALL FEDERATION AUSTRALIA MEMBERS AND PLAYERS FROM AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND LISTENING TO WORLD CUP ANNOUNCEMENT; CELEBRATING WHEN HEARING BID WON BY AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND; SOUNDBITE FROM AUSTRALIA MATILDAS VICE-CAPTAIN, STEPH CATLEY; SOUNDBITE FROM NEW ZEALAND FERNS PLAYER, ANNALIE LONGO;

SHOWS:

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (JUNE 26, 2020) (FOOTBALL FEDERATION AUSTRALIA HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL)

1. VARIOUS OF FOOTBALL FEDERATION AUSTRALIA AND BID MEMBERS AND MATILDAS PLAYERS LISTENING TO WORLD CUP ANNOUNCEMENT / EVERYONE CELEBRATING WHEN HEARING BID WON BY AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIA MATILDAS VICE-CAPTAIN, STEPH CATLEY, SAYING:

"To be honest I had no idea and I think that's what made it so scary, it was just the fact that everyone in that room had worked so tirelessly for three years on that bid and looking around I was like, I can't handle this if, you know, it goes the other way I don't want to look these people in the eye but you know, being able to scream and shout and hug them at the end for a winning bid it was just the best feeling in the world."

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND (JUNE 26, 2020) (TVNZ - Broadcasters: NO USE NEW ZEALAND Digital: NO USE NEW ZEALAND INTERNET SITES / ANY INTERNET SITE OF ANY NEW ZEALAND OR AUSTRALIA BASED MEDIA ORGANISATIONS OR MOBILE

PLATFORMS)

3. NEW ZEALAND FERNS PLAYERS ERIN NAYLER, HANNAH WILKINSON AND ANNALIE LONGO WATCHING WORLD CUP ANNOUNCEMENT / PLAYERS CELEBRATING AND SHOUTING WHEN HEARING BID WON BY AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW ZEALAND FERNS PLAYER, ANNALIE LONGO, SAYING:

"Yeah, absolutely stoked. Yeah, I mean obviously coming in we were confident but you kind of never know until it's confirmed so yeah, we are really happy and obviously World Cup is coming home."

5. VARIOUS OF AUCKLAND'S SKY TOWER LIT UP IN CELEBRATION

STORY: Australian and New Zealand's women soccer players let out almighty roars, burst into applause and pumped their fists in celebration in the early hours of Friday (June 26) after their countries' joint bid for the 2023 Women's World Cup was confirmed.

Football Ferns Erin Nayler, Hannah Wilkinson and Annalie Longo erupted with joy as they crowded around a laptop watching the video stream, while Matildas players sitting with the "As One" bid team also jumped up in celebration.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino made the announcement at about 3.45 a.m. NZT (1545 GMT) on Friday.

Both Football Federation Australia (FFA) and New Zealand Football (NZF) had emphasised the boost that hosting the tournament would provide for the development of the game in the Asian and Oceania Confederations.

(Production: Stefica Nicol Bikes)