<p>Thousands of football fans crossed the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday to mark the start of a 25-day countdown to the Women's World Cup, which is being co-hosted by Australia.</p>.<p>The Antipodean nation is putting on the quadrennial tournament with New Zealand in July and August across nine cities.</p>.<p>More than 4,000 people crossed the bridge as part of "a festival of football" ahead of the tournament, which will see teams from 32 nations participate, FIFA said in a statement.</p>.<p>The event on the bridge - closed to traffic for the duration - involved the unveiling of a 17-metre-tall "Unity Jersey", FIFA said, while public broadcaster ABC reported that participants walked, jogged and danced along the iconic structure's roadway.</p>.<p>"This is an amazing opportunity to start the soccer World Cup and women, well, we deserve the world so we are here," one attendee told <em>Channel 7</em> television.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/dh-galleries/photos/in-pics-football-teams-to-win-the-treble-1226800" target="_blank"><strong>In Pics | Football teams to win the treble</strong></a></p>.<p>Another participant told the network: "Woman's sport is becoming much more visible and it's wonderful to see us finally get a chance to show what we can do on the world stage, it's amazing."</p>.<p>The first match will be between New Zealand and Norway at Eden Park in New Zealand's biggest city Auckland on July 20.</p>.<p>Football Australia last month said the tournament could be the launchpad for a future Australian bid to co-host the men's event, possibly in 2034.</p>
<p>Thousands of football fans crossed the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday to mark the start of a 25-day countdown to the Women's World Cup, which is being co-hosted by Australia.</p>.<p>The Antipodean nation is putting on the quadrennial tournament with New Zealand in July and August across nine cities.</p>.<p>More than 4,000 people crossed the bridge as part of "a festival of football" ahead of the tournament, which will see teams from 32 nations participate, FIFA said in a statement.</p>.<p>The event on the bridge - closed to traffic for the duration - involved the unveiling of a 17-metre-tall "Unity Jersey", FIFA said, while public broadcaster ABC reported that participants walked, jogged and danced along the iconic structure's roadway.</p>.<p>"This is an amazing opportunity to start the soccer World Cup and women, well, we deserve the world so we are here," one attendee told <em>Channel 7</em> television.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/dh-galleries/photos/in-pics-football-teams-to-win-the-treble-1226800" target="_blank"><strong>In Pics | Football teams to win the treble</strong></a></p>.<p>Another participant told the network: "Woman's sport is becoming much more visible and it's wonderful to see us finally get a chance to show what we can do on the world stage, it's amazing."</p>.<p>The first match will be between New Zealand and Norway at Eden Park in New Zealand's biggest city Auckland on July 20.</p>.<p>Football Australia last month said the tournament could be the launchpad for a future Australian bid to co-host the men's event, possibly in 2034.</p>