The Papua New Guinea Football Association says now the country has been awarded hosting right's for next year's Under 20 Women's World Cup, the next task is to ensure their team is competitive.
PNG were given the nod over Sweden at FIFA's executive committee meeting in Zurich last week.
Papua New Guinea will be the first Pacific Island nation to host a FIFA-sanctioned age-group World Cup, and will also be the first Oceania nation, outside of Australia and New Zealand to participate in the tournament.
The General Secretary of the PNGFA, Dimrit Mileng, says while hosting a World Cup is great for the development of football in Papua New Guinea, they want to be competitive.
"Not just being there for the numbers but at least demonstrate that yes we have a family of footballers who actually play football, and play good football. In the area of women's football we see a lot of potential in getting up into the rank in the Oceania Region. Apart from New Zealand, PNG women have won three consecutive gold medals at the Pacific Games so we think we could benefit greatly from making the game more popular among the girls."
PNG will be bidding for another Pacific Games gold medal in July when they host this year's tournament in Port Moresby.
Papua New Guinea will host the 2016 Women's Football World Cup. Photo: Oceania Football
