- Cautious but growing optimism within Football Australia
- Vocal opposition to Saudi tourism arm sponsoring tournament
There is cautious but growing optimism among Football Australia officials that Fifa will make a U-turn by dropping plans to unveil Visit Saudi as a key sponsor of the Women’s World Cup.
Football Australia was left blindsided by reports in January linking Saudi Arabia’s tourism arm with this year’s tournament in Australia and New Zealand, given the Saudi state’s appalling human rights record and ban on same-sex marriage.