Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has praised Football Australia, New Zealand Football, the Local FIFA Subsidiary and FIFA for staging the best ever FIFA Women’s World Cup edition to date whilst also hailing Asian teams and officials for their admirable displays at the global showpiece.

Australia’s historic fourth-place finish was Asia’s best showing at the FIFA Women’s World Cup since Japan’s runners-up finish in the 2015 edition in Canada, whilst the Nadeshiko also performed commendably before bowing out to Sweden in the Quarter-finals.

Shaikh Salman said: “The FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 was truly a celebration of the women’s game that will be cherished and remembered for years to come.

“The attention to detail and unparalleled organisational capabilities of Football Australia, New Zealand Football, the Local FIFA Subsidiary and FIFA have contributed to the staging of the greatest ever edition in the tournament’s proud history.

“The foundations of the global women’s game have been strengthened through their incredible efforts and they have set the benchmark for future editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup to emulate and surpass,” added the AFC President.

“At the same time, the performance of our record six Asian teams also deserves our wholehearted praise. From our worthy debutantes to our traditional powerhouses, our teams as well as our match officials continued to embody the AFC’s aspirations to stand proud with the world’s best.”

AFC