Citing the use of Video Assistant Referees during the 2018 FIFA Men's World Cup as positive and effective, World Football's governing body recommended the technology to be used for the first time in a Women's Soccer tournament. Earlier in March, Zvonimir Boban was quoted as saying:
"The chairman of FIFA’s Referees Committee has updated us on the progress made with regard to the implementation of VAR at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019."
The FIFA Deputy Secretary General added in his statement:
"Based on the thorough work carried out over the past few months, FIFA is happy with the steps taken and the excellent job done by FIFA’s refereeing team and the female referees involved.
"We are confident about proposing the use of VAR in France to the FIFA Council, as we are very positive about its implementation."
Key personalities in Women's Football, such as Jill Ellis, embraced the idea.
"First and foremost, we’ve got to fight for what’s going to help the game," the USWNT head coach declared.
"You can just see the benefit of it. It’s proven."
On Friday in Miami, the FIFA Council officially approved and confirmed the use of VAR in France 2019.
The women's version of the Beautiful Game's most prestigious international competition was founded 28 years ago. Previously called the "FIFA Women's Championship", it contained 12 contenders until 1995 when its size increased to 16 nations.
Since the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada, the finals are made of 24 countries. The United States are the most successful side in the WWC record books with three titles, 43 matches played, 33 won, 112 goals scored and 105 points collected.
This summer's showdown in France promises to be the biggest of all FIFA Women's World Cup editions in history as women's football keeps evolving in the right direction with the introduction of VAR and other implementations.
Meanwhile, the identity of country to welcome the rest of the world at the following tournament is yet to be known. The 2023 Women's World Cup hosts' name will only be unveiled in March 2020 after step 1 (bid submissions in October 2019) and step 2 (evaluation of bids in February 2020) are completed.
In the meantime, a tenth FIFA Council meeting is due to take place in Paris on June 3; less than a week before the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup kicks off in grand style at the Parc des Princes with France vs Korea Republic on June 7.
