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Caitlin Foord was just 16 years and eight months old when she had her first taste of World Cup football, a one-nil loss to Brazil in the first round of the 2011 women's World Cup in Germany.

Today the 25-year-old from the NSW south coast is a veteran of three World Cups and believes hosting the tournament in Australia and New Zealand would be a game-changer for the sport domestically.

"To have any major football tournament in Australia let alone a World Cup is something Australia has never seen before," Foord said.

"I think it will do massive things for the game in Australia for both girls and boys growing up playing football.

"It gives younger generations and upcoming footballers a chance to see what they can strive to be and drive towards.

Australia will learn at 2:00am AEST on Friday whether it will be hosting the women's FIFA 2023 World Cup alongside New Zealand with Colombia remaining the only rival bid after Japan withdrew from contention.

With the memories of Australia's unsuccessful bid for the 2022 men's competition lingering, the FFA will be reluctant to count its chickens before they hatch.

But Foord said if the bid was successful, hosting the tournament would be a testament to the growing popularity of the Matildas.

"As the years have gone on you can feel Australia has grown to love the Matildas as a team," she said.

"You see that when we have games at home and we get 18,000 to 20,000 people showing up."

Stepping onto the field in Mnchengladbach in 2011, Caitlin Foord became the youngest player, male or female, to play at a World Cup and was determined to make the most of her chance.

"I just grabbed it with two hands as I didn't want to miss my opportunity," Foord said.

"I was converted to a right back and the national team needed a right back at that time and it opened the door for me to start my international career."

Foord quickly locked down a place in the Matildas starting line-up and featured in all Australia's games.

Despite the Matildas exiting the competition in their first knockout game, Foord's performances in Germany turned heads and earned her the inaugural best young player accolade.

Nine years later her performances both domestically and abroad, she caught the eye of one of the biggest clubs in world football.

Foord signed with Arsenal in January this year but was only able to play a handful of games before COVID-19 prematurely ended the season.

"It was obviously not the start I wanted. I guess that's what happens."

"I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else when the lockdown hit, just because how the club looked after us and everyone was so positive it felt like you were still part of the team.

"It gave me an opportunity to get to know some of the players as well, so I think that's only going to help when we go back for next season."

Foord also said she was looking forward to working with highly regarded Australian coach Joe Montemurro when training resumed in July.

"I didn't know Joe before, but I'd only heard good things and after my first conversation I was sold.

"I haven't really got the chance to work with him that much yet so definitely looking forward to that when the season starts."

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FIFA 2023 World Cup for Australia-New Zealand will uncover next generation of Matildas says Caitlin Foord - ABC News