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The first moves in New Zealand's bid to host Fifa's 2015 Women's World Cup could come as early as next month.
New Zealand Football chief executive Michael Glading said "future strategy" was on the agenda for next month's board meeting. The idea of considering such a bid had, he admitted yesterday, gained momentum in light of the success of the Under-17 Women's World Cup.
At a pre-under-17 tournament interview when asked whether a successful age group tournament here could lead to "bigger and better" with the 2015 Cup an obvious target, Fifa secretary-general Jerome Valcke said he could see no reason why not.
Asked yesterday whether such a bid was now likely to receive favourable support from Fifa, their head of competitions Oliver Vogt said simply, "Very much. New Zealand has put on a great tournament.
"We did not know what to expect [in terms of support] but we hoped we would double the number of people who attended the Under-20 Women's World Cup in Russia two years ago. In the end we had four times as many - up from 52,000 to 212,000."
Vogt said that as far as he was aware, this was the first Fifa age group tournament at which all matches were televised live. This is seen as a huge plus.
"There is no doubt in my mind New Zealand can host a men's under-20 World Cup or the senior women's World Cup," said Vogt.
"I think you have shown you are capable of delivering what Fifa requires.
"I think they have a very good chance [for 2015]. Everyone I have spoken to would love to come back.
"They definitely have the infrastructure and stadiums."
Vogt said the decision on hosting rights for 2015 could be made by the Fifa executive shortly after the 2011 Women's World Cup in Germany.
"Earlier competitions have been played in the United States and China. Why not New Zealand in 2015? It is definitely the chance to take a major competition to the Oceania Football Confederation."
While the North Koreans deservedly took the major honour with their extra time win over the United States in Sunday's final, other awards were shared.
A little surprisingly, a player who played only three of a possible six matches, won the adidas Golden Ball in being voted player of the tournament.
Japan's Mana Iwabuchi, 15, headed German sharpshooter Dzsenifer Marozsan and American Kristie Mews from the list of seven players put forward by Fifa's Technical Study Group.
Marozsan did, however, hold on to take the Golden Shoe as the tournament's leading goalscorer, with six, despite failing to score in the semifinals or final.
She beat Vicki DiMartino (US), with five, and Korea DPR's Jon Myong Hwa, one of three players to score four.
American goalkeeper Taylor Vancil was handed the adidas Golden Glove as the best in her position.
The Germans, who took bronze with their comfortable win over England in the 3rd-4th play-off, won Fifa's Fair Play award after picking up just one yellow card in their six matches.
