The bids received by FIFA were a joint submission by the Football Federation Australia and New Zealand Football, Brazilian Football Association, Colombian Football Associationand Japan Football Association.

All of the bid books, along with their respective executive summaries, are available on FIFA.com.

FFA’s and NZF’s Bid – which has received the unified support of the Governments of Australia and New Zealand – promises to amplify women’s football in Asia and Oceania like never before as the two culturally and geographically aligned nations work ‘As One’ to deliver a truly inspired celebration of women’s football.

Australia beat Chile twice in November in international friendlies to climb up to seventh, while Japan - unchanged at 10th place - became Asia's second ranked team after DPR Korea dropped two spots to 11th.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino had already said that he was determined to push ahead with plans to expand the FIFA Women's World Cup in time for the next tournament after hailing France 2019 as "the best ever".

"The astounding success of this year's World Cup made it very clear that this is the time to keep the momentum going and take concrete steps to foster the growth of women's football," said Infantino, who has succeeded in expanding the men's tournament from 32 teams to 48 in time for the 2026 finals in the USA, Mexico and Canada.

"I am glad to see this proposal - the first of several - becoming a reality."

Rapinoe stroked home from 12 yards to put the USA ahead just after the hour mark and end the tournament as joint top scorer on six goals.

There was an air of inevitability about the 34-year-old, the star of this World Cup on and off the field, putting the USA ahead, and it also seemed inevitable that the breakthrough goal should come from a VAR-awarded penalty.

The whippet-like Lavelle, another stand-out performer over the last month, got the second in the 69th minute, killing off Dutch hopes of a comeback.

England were looking to claim the bronze medal for the second successive World Cup, but it was Peter Gerhardsson's side who finished third for the third time.

Kosovare Asllani gave Sweden an 11th-minute lead, before Jakobsson curled in an excellent second midway through the first half, and although Fran Kirby quickly pulled one back, England could not find an equaliser.

With three out of five representatives reaching the knockout stage, it was a tournament of much promise, but three losses in four days to European opposition meant that, for the first time in history, the quarter-final draw is without an Asian side.

As the dust settles on the Continent’s campaign at France 2019, the-AFC.com reviews the campaigns of each of the five participants.