8. WE LEAD THE WORLD IN WOMEN'S SPORT FOR A REASON


In all seriousness, we're far from perfect hosts.

We acknowledge that we live out in the sticks, we tend to drink a little too much, we may wear gumboots at the table and okay, we don't like the main dish that's on offer as much as some of our South American counterparts.

But the Women's World Cup isn't just about the event itself, is it?

At its heart, the WWC is a symbol of gender equality. That women can do anything men can and that playing like a girl is actually a bloody fun thing to watch.

In that sense, this event can't just be treated like a game. This is sport at its most serious.

And while we may not take ourselves seriously as countries, we do take ourselves very seriously about sport. We spend a lot of time self-deprecating, but there are some things we're very proud of.

We are global leaders in female sporting participation, athlete pay and event attendance. Over 3.3 million Aussie women attend sporting events each year. We boast - both contemporarily and historically - most of the best female tennis, cricket, netball, swimming, athletics, surfing, rugby and racing competitors of all time. Three of the top six attended female sporting leagues worldwide are in Australia.

In fact, we have some of the most inspiring females in the world across all walks of life. Have we mentioned Jacinda Ardern?

In so many ways, we are setting the benchmark for all others to follow.

Like everyone, we still have so much more to do. But this entire article is about the fact that we know we're not perfect. Unlike many others, we are doing something real about it.

So FIFA, the ball is in your court. Help us change the world, one kick at a time.