Catley was then in the headlines again after being named as a new recruit for English high-flyers Arsenal, where she will link with a familiar coach in fellow Melburnian Joe Montemurro.

Already with a nearly a decade of international experience on her CV, the left-sided attacking full-back is set to be at the peak of her career when the world’s elite head Down Under in three years time.

Before her departure for North London, Catley spoke to FIFA.com about her emotions when the 2023 hosting rights were announced, France 2019 experiences, her expectations for a home World Cup and the newest chapter in her club career.

In the very early hours of Friday, June 26, members of Australia and New Zealand’s ‘As One’ bid team sat in silent anticipation at Football Federation Australia’s Sydney headquarters.

Silent anticipation became palpable tension as the wait went on, but it would soon be replaced with an outpouring of joy, thanks to a single sentence delivered half a world away by Gianni Infantino.

Australia’s new status as an automatic qualifier, coupled with the 2023 tournament’s expansion from 24 to 32 teams, means the race to reach the pinnacle of the women’s game has never been more open.

As attention shifts towards what promises to be a golden month of football in 2023, Asia’s emerging nations are embracing their best ever chance to reach the World Cup Finals, setting the stage for a key period in the development of the women’s game in Asia.

Joining the-AFC.com to discuss the road ahead are Philippines goalkeeper Inna Palacios, Vietnamese captain Huynh Nhu, and Bala Devi, who will be among India’s star players when they host the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2022.

More teams, revenue, fans

The FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 will be groundbreaking in more ways than one way. It will be the first with 32 teams, up from the 24 nations who competed at last year's Finals in France, won by the United States. That means more matches and more revenue to be ploughed back into women's football.

The sports-mad host nations are expecting 1.5 million spectators, which would be another record, while prize money is set to be most ever offered, reflecting the growth of the game.

It will be the first women's World Cup co-hosted by cooperating nations and the first to take place in the southern hemisphere.

With the aim of finding out the fans' all-time favourite team, the-AFC.com has presented a number of candidates who have all excelled at the World Cup over the years, contributing considerably to their respective countries' success at the global showpiece.

And after you have voted in your tens of thousands, Asia's Best XI at the FIFA World Cup can now be revealed, while an XI by OPTA, the official statistics provider for the AFC, is also included as a comparison.

In a second semi-final featuring 10 more Asian World Cup classics, this week’s selection features some of the continent’s all-time greats, all delivering moments of magic on the game’s biggest stage.

There are fabulous free-kicks, blistering breakaways and scorchers from distance, but which five goals will advance to next week’s final?

Cast your vote below from our list of nominees:

From scenes in Singapore to joy in Jakarta and incredible climaxes in Guwahati, Hisor and Al Wakrah, our latest edition shines the spotlight on the magical moments that help make the beautiful game the most watched sport in the world.

Also take a look at past editions that feature acrobatic goals, solo goals, volleys, long-range screamers and free-kicks.