Soccer-Japan to consider 2039 Women's World Cup bid after FIFA decision

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 - Final - Spain v England - Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia - August 20, 2023 General view of a Spain player holding the World Cup trophy after the match REUTERS/Carl Recine/File Photo

(Reuters) - Japan Football Association president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto has said his country will consider bidding to host the 2039 Women's World Cup after FIFA's decision not to allow Asian nations to pitch for the rights to the 2031 or 2035 editions of the competition.

The game's governing body announced last week that bids for the 2031 rights would be permitted from countries in Africa and Concacaf, the regional body governing the sport in North and Central America as well as the Caribbean.