International football association, FIFA, recently identified 13 training locations across five host cities as preparations for the tournament kick-off.
JL Murphy Soccer Pitch 1 and adjoining pavilion will be made available to participating nations for training sessions throughout the tournament, which is set to take place from 20 July to 20 August across Australia and New Zealand.
Albert Park’s Lakeside Stadium was also selected as a designated training site for the tournament.
The soccer pitch and the adjoining pavilion, home to the Port Melbourne Soccer Club – ‘The Sharks’, has been through a thorough and detailed evaluation process.
The announcement by FIFA is great recognition of Council’s focus and support for female sport participation and a reward for our desire to improve facilities that can support inclusive opportunities.
Next year’s World Cup will be a great international showcase of female sport and will be a terrific opportunity to enhance our support for girls and women participating in sport at a local level.Football Australia’s Head of Women’s World Cup Legacy, Sarah Walsh, said the announcement begins to make the World Cup more tangible at a local level.
“This is an important moment for our host cities and the start of a number of exciting announcements around the tournament as it starts to come to life for our local football communities.
“Beyond the major stadia, we now see multiple facilities having an opportunity to be a part of this tournament of firsts, with many of these training sites having a strong football footprint and are deeply embedded in their local communities. This is a chance to increase their involvement and highlight the contribution to Australia’s football story,” Walsh said.
At 12 hectares, JL Murphy Reserve is the largest Council controlled park in our City. Its sportsgrounds make for a popular venue for residents and sports clubs including cricket, soccer, baseball and football.
