Emily van Egmond eloquently expressed how she was feeling with one word.
"Yewww" was tweeted on social media by the Newcastle 26-year-old in the early hours of Friday morning after news broke that Australia and New Zealand would be hosting the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
The midfielder has already been to three World Cups - 2011, 2015 and 2019 - and would surely be eyeing a fourth on home soil.
Van Egmond was integral to Melbourne City sealing the W-League championship in March and in career-best form as the Matildas sealed Olympic qualification in the same month.
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Speaking to the Newcastle Herald from the United States ahead of the historic announcement, she described the possibility of playing a World Cup in Australia as "an amazing experience".
"To have the full support of your country, playing in arguably the biggest tournament you can play in for your country, would be something extremely special," van Egmond said.
"It would be great for the aspiring young girls in Australia right now who want to be Matildas and, to honest, I think it would be great for any young boy or girl watching."
Van Egmond flew to the US last month to prepare for the NWSL Challenge Cup, which begins in Utah this weekend. But her team, Orlando Pride, withdrew during the week after several players and staff tested positive to coronavirus.
