The host of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023™ will be determined by a vote held by the FIFA Council on June 25. After starting its full-fledged bidding activities in March 2019, the Japan Bid Committee has been actively expanding its activities with the support of local governments, the Japan Sports Agency and other ministries/agencies, and the football family. Here we will introduce the eight cities and stadiums proposed to FIFA.

In our third article, we will introduce the city of Sapporo and Sapporo Dome.

Introduction of host-city for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023™

City: Sapporo, Hokkaido
Proposed Stadium: Sapporo Dome

Hokkaido and women’s football

Hokkaido has produced many players for Nadeshiko Japan, including KUMAGAI Saki (Olympique Lyonnais), TAKASE Megumi, and MIYAKE Shiori (INAC Kobe Leonessa). Not limited to football players, but many talented referees have also come out from Hokkaido, such as referee OIWA Mayumi (2007/China PR) and assistant referee TESHIROGI Naomi (2015/Canada), who both participated in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Led by Norddea Hokkaido, who is competing in the Challenge League (third division of Japan Women's Football League), over 2,100 female players are currently active, ranging from primary school students to adults. It was not until 2006 that the regional women’s football league had started, but women’s football has become more popular in the region and many clubs are currently striving to join the Nadeshiko League. In 2014, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo founded their women’s club, “Hokkaido Lira Consadole,” where they consist wide variety of teams, from the U-12 generation to adults. Their U-15 and U-18 teams have reached the national tournament, as they earned their spot into the JFA U-15 Japan Women's Football Championship and JFA U-18 Japan Women's Football Championship, respectively. The Hokkaido Football Association has also been active in human resource development, holding their own women’s football meetings, which is rarely seen even across the country.

Sapporo Dome

Sapporo Dome is being proposed to host matches leading to the semi-finals of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023™. The dome opened in June 2001, and it hosted three group stage matches at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™ (Germany vs Saudi Arabia, Italy vs Ecuador, England vs Argentina), attracting many fans and supporters from all over the world. Sapporo Dome is known for being the world’s first all-weather, multi-purpose dome, with retractable surface system, which allows the dome to switch between natural grass pitch for football and artificial turf field for baseball. The dome is equipped with photovoltaic power system, and its ceiling audio system delivers uniform sound throughout the arena. With the usage of low bass sound, the dome provides an exciting sporting experience for the viewers. The dome is home to the J1 side Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo and NPB team Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, while it also hosted matches of last year’s Rugby World Cup 2019™, and it is planned to host men’s and women’s football matches for the Tokyo Olympics as well.