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ave Beeche has been appointed the new CEO of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand.
Beeche will join chief operating officers, Jane Fernandez and Jane Patterson in preparing for the tournament which begins in just over two years.
In a statement, Beeche said he is excited to be involved in leading the tournament at such a pivotal time for women’s sport.
“I am honoured and excited to be given the opportunity to lead the delivery of such a significant tournament, especially at a time when there is so much focus globally on the development of women’s sport and, more broadly, the empowerment of women,” Beeche said.
“I look forward to working with both member associations and the host cities to not only deliver an outstanding tournament that showcases the world-class talent in women’s football, but leave a lasting positive legacy for women’s sport,” he said.
The announcement comes as FIFA released its “Setting the Pace” report into the “development and professionalisation of elite women’s football around the world.”
The report identified that while around 70% of women’s clubs internationally operate at a loss, broadcasting, both on traditional and digital platforms, presents a significant opportunity for growth.
According to Sport Business, three-season domestic broadcast deals for England’s Women’s Super League worth around £7 million per season, “bring in more revenue than any other women’s domestic league in the world.”
Sport Business also report both FIFA and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) “have enjoyed sizable uplifts in broadcast deal values for the Women’s World Cup and Women’s Euro, respectively, on the back of rising audiences.”
In its commitment to “revolutionise women’s football” FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, told French newspaper L’Équipe the organisation will launch a Women’s Club World Cup “very soon”, and have agreed on the expansion of the Women’s World Cup.
Australia and New Zealand will host the ninth edition of the Women’s World Cup, but it will be the first time the tournament will have 32 teams competing.
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