The Auckland Sky Tower is pictured during a FIFA Women's World Cup "One Year To Go" event in Auckland, New Zealand on July 20, 2022. Photo: VCG

Events were held in Australia's several major cities on Wednesday to mark the one-year countdown to FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.

A Unity Pitch located on Barangaroo Reserve in Sydney was unveiled by FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura to mark the milestone date on the road to the tournament scheduled from July 20 to August 20, 2023.

The pitch, created with the tournament's colorful livery in mind, will be open to the public and local soccer groups until Sunday, before touring each of the tournament's nine host cities over 2023. The pitch will tour all host cities prior to July 20, 2023.

"This competition will provide a platform to inspire and unite through the power of women's football and FIFA, together with the host countries, looks forward to welcoming players and fans from around the world and going beyond greatness together in 2023," said Samoura.

Premier of the state of New South Wales (NSW) Dominic Perrottet said it's an honor for NSW to host the biggest event in women's sport.

"Sydney has a celebrated history of hosting major international sporting events and we look forward to welcoming 16,000 visitors to our global city, to cheer on their teams at the rebuilt Sydney Football Stadium and the final at Stadium Australia," said Perrottet.

NSW Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor said hosting the FIFA Women's World Cup in the southern hemisphere for the first time was a huge deal and gave female soccer players the opportunity to see the very best in their sport in the flesh.

Sydney, as well as other eight host cities across the two host countries, Australia and New Zealand, will also light up their iconic monuments such as the Harbour Bridge and Auckland's Sky Tower to celebrate the "One Year to Go."

Football Australia also revealed on Wednesday the progress made to date with its Legacy '23 Plan, which was launched in February 2021 aiming to deliver positive and enduring benefits for the development of soccer in Australia beyond 2023.

Xinhua