Brazil says interested in hosting women's WCup

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) In the midst of preparing for next year's World Cup and the 2016 Olympics, Brazil could also be in line to hold the women's World Cup as early as 2019.

Brazilian Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo told reporters he's already talked with FIFA President Sepp Blatter about the idea.

"I proposed the idea," Rebelo said at the launch of a new Brazilian women's league on Monday. "I think other countries are interested in holding the event. We'll have to look at the calendar. If we don't get it for 2019, then we'll have to look at another year (2023)."

That would make for a very crowded calendar since Brazil is also slated to hold the Copa America in 2019 the men's continental championship.

Canada will hold the 2015 women's World Cup.

Brazil is preparing for next year's World Cup and the 2016 Olympics. Both projects are struggling to stay on schedule and are facing public scrutiny about the billions being spent on sports events, particularly in a country with poor public services, high taxes and stark inequality.

Brazil is spending about $13.3 billion of largely public money on the World Cup. Olympic organizers have yet to announced their budgets, but public spending could be similar to that of the World Cup or higher.

Women's football matches were well attended during the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio. Although women's football in Brazil pales in comparison to the men's game, the country is home to Marta Vieira da Silva known simply as "Marta" the game's top female player.