Canberra contenders to host 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, says Heather Garriock

"Canberra was a host city in the 2000 Olympics and I was fortunate enough to play at Bruce Stadium, as it was called in the old days," Garriock said. "Most definitely, it's the capital of the nation and I'm proud to be a part of Canberra United."

Football Federation Australia is preparing its bid to win the rights of the World Cup and hoping to land around $120 million in federal and state government funding to host the event.

ACT Sports Minister Yvette Berry said the government wantsto be part of Australia's bid for the tournament as it continues to champion women's sport.

Canberra will host five women's World Twenty20 fixtures in 2020 but the government snubbed the men's tournament to invest in the showpiece event. The ACT has previously hosted the Diamonds, Opals, the Fed Cup and the women's Australian Open golf.

Garriock, the Canberra United coach, believes Australia is the perfect place to host the World Cup and it would put the nation "on the map for women's sport."

"Australia absolutely has a strong chance," Garriock said. "It's a beautiful country. We held the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, [our stadiums] can hold big crowds, we're a successful top 10 team and we've got one of the best players in the world [in Sam Kerr].

"[It would be] instrumental to have the world's best competition here in Australia."

Garriock will be the head analyst for Optus Sport's coverage of the Women's World Cup and joins Melanie McLaughlin, Richard Bayliss and best friend Amy Duggan at the helm.

Optus will broadcast all 52 matches, highlights provide in-depth analyses and behind the scenes footage from France. The broadcaster are also making the 2019 World Cup free for schoolkids to "provide an opportunity for [them] to see a different future."

"This is the best broadcasting team that I've been a part of as a professional," Garriock said. "We're talking about past players and some great media personalities. I'm excited to be a part of it and being able to analyse the different countries around the world and see their own styles - which is only going to develop me as a coach."

Garriock believes the groundbreaking coverage and the FFA's bid to host the next World Cup shows how the women's game is "growing in leaps and bounds" in Australia.

"It's crucial. If you can see what you want to be then the broadcast is so important for this World Cup," Garriock said. "I never thought [Australia] could be a contender in world football and make an impact on young girls lives.

"It's just fabulous to see where football has come from but let's not forget the past players that have paved the way for these particular players in this World Cup."

The Matildas have been marked as genuine contenders to claim this year's title alongside hosts France, the United States, Germany, England, Japan and the Netherlands. While Garriock predicts an Australia-France grand final, the hosts will have to overcome reigning champions USA in the quarter finals.

"I'd love to see the Matildas go all the way but I really think that France being in their home country is definitely going to be a nation that's a powerhouse," Garriock said. "The United States has got the complete squad, including the depth, which I plays a massive part in a competition where you play every couple of days. So I think they have the overall squad to win it."

The Women's World Cup will kick-off with hosts France taking on Korea Republic at the Parc des Princes on June 7.

The Matildas will open their campaign against Italy two days later at the Stade du Hainaut in Valenciennes.

WORLD CUP GAMES

Australia v Italy: Sunday, June 9

Australia v Brazil: Thursday, June 13

Australia v Jamaica: Tuesday, June 18

MATILDAS SQUAD

Lydia Williams, Gema Simon, Aivi Luik, Clare Polkinghorne, Laura Alleway, Chloe Logarzo, Steph Catley (VC), Elise Kellond-Knight, Caitlin Foord, Emily Van Egmond, Lisa de Vanna, Teagan Micah, Tameka Yallop, Alanna Kennedy, Emily Gielnik, Hayley Raso, Mary Fowler, Mackenzie Arnold, Katrina Gorry, Sam Kerr (C), Ellie Carpenter, Amy Harrison, Teigen Allen