NEWCASTLE Matildas superstar Emily van Egmond could get to live out a dream - playing a World Cup game in her home town.
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Football Federation Australia confirmed on Tuesday that McDonald Jones Stadium would be one of 13 venues used if the joint bid between Australia and New Zealand to host the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup was successful.
The Trans-Tasman proposal is up against bids from Colombia, Japan and Brazil.
The 37-person FIFA executive committee votes on the host in June.
FFA on Tuesday released its AsOne brochure which outlined the bid in detail.
It included a section on the hosts cities and described Newcastle as a "lively coastal hub" which is "renowned for its pristine beaches."
Van Egmond, 26, has played at the past three World Cups in France (2019), Canada (2015) and Germany (2011).
The midfielder has been an ambassador for the city since former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull flagged Australia's interest in hosting the 2023 event three years ago.
McDonald Jones Stadium has since become a fortress for the Matildas with van Egmond front and centre.
A then Australian-record crowd of 16,829 fans watched Sam Kerr score a hat-trick to the lead Australia to a 3-2 win over Brazil in 2017.
In 2018, the Matildas thrashed Chile 5-0 in front of 12,649 fans after which vice-captain Steph Catley said the team had an affinity with Newcastle.
The rapport only strengthened after a 5-0 thrashing of Vietnam in front of 14,041 in the first leg of the final Olympic qualifier in March. Van Egmond scored in the rout - her first goal on home soil.
Of course, if Australia and New Zealand win the bid, there is no guarantee Newcastle would be given a Matildas game. But given the recent patronage and success and the city's track record of putting on big events, including the semi-final of the 2015 Asian Cup, the chances are heightened.
The 2023 women's tournament has been expanded to 32 teams and is expected to attract 1.5 million fans to games across 12 cities.
Four groups would be located in each country during the group stage, which would start in mid July.
As well as game venues, the tournament would require 54 base camps and 100 training grounds.
Hunter Valley resorts were used by teams as bases during the 2015 Asian Cup and Magic Park was a training ground.
The opening game of the 2023 tournament would be in Auckland with the final set down for Sydney.
The round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals will be played across the two host nations, while the third-place play-off will take place in Australia.
The venues are split into three hubs. Newcastle is in the east hub along with Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Launceston.
Melbourne and Launceston are also part of the south hub.
The New Zealand hub is comprised of Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
Much of Australia and New Zealand's hopes of winning the rights to host the World Cup rest on NSW government's ability to deliver two new stadiums on time.
The trans-Tasman bid is the only one that offers two new stadiums for the tournament with the bid book including the new Sydney Football Stadium in Moore Park as one host venue as well as the refurbished Olympic Park stadium.
The new 75,000 seated venue at Olympic Park will host the final.
However, both new venues are experiencing significant delays as the Government is yet to find a builder to complete the construction job.