FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 and sports diplomacy at a confederation level: the galactic alliance

The New Zealand and Australia co-hosting of the 2023 Fédération Internationale de Football Association's (FIFA) Women's World Cup creates an unprecedented context; it is the first time the co-hosts cross between two confederations. In the following discussion, this chapter explores the sports diplomacy opportunities and challenges involved in the tournament crossing between two confederations, the Asian and Oceania Football Confederations. More specifically, it examines the international, regional, and national strategic aims and operational programmes connected to FIFA, the confederations, and the tournament. Adopting a content document analysis approach, this chapter gathered and analysed publicly accessible documents released during the bid and preparation periods focusing on the diplomatic opportunities and challenges. The analysis presents a selection of historical and contemporary empirical and conceptual discussion points faced by the tournament stakeholders. The chapter concludes by outlining the ongoing conundrum that while there are aligned diplomatic aims from confederations and tournament stakeholders, this strategic alignment has not necessarily transcended political boundaries.