The Japan Football Association on Thursday confirmed that it has submitted its bid book for the 2023 Women's World Cup to FIFA as Japan seeks to become the second Asian country to host the tournament following China in 1991 and 2007.
While the final list of bidding nations will not be known until Friday's deadline, Japan is considered a frontrunner in a field that may include a potential joint Australia-New Zealand bid, a rumored unified Korean bid, Colombia, Argentina and Brazil. South Africa withdrew from the bidding process earlier this week.
Faced with a shrinking field of competitors and a strong promotional blitz from Australia in particular, JFA President Kozo Tashima insisted Thursday that Japan remains focused on the big prize.