Melbourne City academy coach Alex Smith has coached for two years in the Australian W-League as an assistant with Brisbane Roar and now City’s W-League side. 

He sees the Women's World Cup as vital for ambitious young female players in order to inspire them, and to push clubs to improve standards even more.

"The world’s attention will also be on us, and our W-League can only benefit from that,” he told FTBL

"I would hope there would be increased interest and investment in the league and female footballer development if we were to get the Women's World Cup. 

“Three years is a long time, and attention would have to be on the women’s game domestically. 

"What better time to make sure our domestic competition is flying come 2023?

"What better time for clubs to produce a talent for the Women's World Cup?"

That said, Stott isn’t getting too carried away with the bid’s chances, given Australia/ New Zealand isn’t the only bidder for this Women's World Cup in three years' time. 

Stott (right) with Kyah Simon discussing the Women's World Cup bid

And despite great gains from the two nations and co-bidders around pay parity, nothing is certain. 

The other three bidding nations’ are likely to have strong cases too (Brazil in particular, which hosted a men’s World Cup just six years ago.). 

But the powerful Stott, who was born in Papamoa, New Zealand, is desperate for good news in June for a Women’s World Cup on her home patches.

“I hope we get it so bad. It would be incredible. 

“And yes, it’s a bit strange the fact we’re doing the bid together, but for me, it’s a real home Women's World Cup because I get both nations. 

“Both countries mean a lot to me. And Jacinda Ardern, yeah, she’s pretty cool, too."