Soccer: Going for a set of cups

New Zealand could bid to host the 2019 or 2023 Women's World Cup as the national body look to collect close to a full set of world tournaments.

New Zealand Football were last week basking in the news they will host the 2015 Under-20 World Cup and could make a play to host the senior women's tournament. This would go on top of the 1999 boys Under-17 World Cup and the 2008 Under-17 Women's World Cup.

This country will never host the men's World Cup - not unless enough oil is discovered to do a Qatar - or the Olympics meaning the Women's World Cup would be the best they could hope for.

NZF last year lodged an expression of interest with Fifa to host the 2015 Women's World Cup, along with the Under-20 event, but were advised to focus on the under-age tournament.

"Potentially we will one day bid for the Women's World Cup," outgoing NZF chief executive Michael Glading said. "You have to be realistic. It's probably in that next cycle.

"They just announced the women for 2015, so is it 2019 or 2023? Either way, it's beyond my tenure. But the women would be the next thing."

Canada were last week chosen as hosts for the 2015 version. The 2019 tournament won't be decided for some time, meaning New Zealand have plenty of time to prepare their bid.

It would be a longshot but not out of the question. Fifa indicated last week they liked New Zealand because it was safe, had decent infrastructure and a track record of successful hosting.

New Zealand's stocks have also been rising on the field through their appearance at virtually every World Cup - the only team to miss out in the last cycle was the men's under-20s.

There could be a perception New Zealand would miss out because of the regularity of tournaments here but Glading doesn't think that would be the case. He said Chile had hosted the World Cup (1962), men's Under-20 World Cup (1987), Under-20 Women's World Cup (2008) and will host the 2015 boys' Under-17 World Cup.

NZF will assess how well the Under-20 World Cup goes. If it's a success, and healthy crowds turn up, they are likely to put a bid in for the women's tournament.

Just doing that is also a way to keep New Zealand's and Oceania's profile high with Fifa and allows them to make and maintain key relationships with the world's governing body.

The Women's World Cup was first contested in 1991 in China and will be hosted by Germany in July. New Zealand will play in their third World Cup after 1991 and 2007 (both in China).