The FIFA Council during its video conference. (Photo courtesy of FIFA)

The FIFA Council Thursday approved key dates for the international match calendars, chief among which were the tournament dates for the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The tournament will be played from July 20 to Aug. 20. The new playoff tournament for the 2023 Women’s World Cup 2023 will be held from 17 to 23 February 2023.

FIFA met by video conference on the eve of the 71st FIFA Congress.

The Council also approved dates for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2022 (Oct. 11-30, 2022), FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Costa Rica 2022 (Aug. 10-28, 2022), as well as a 14-team play-off for the FIFA Arab Cup 2021, taking place between June 19-25 this year.

In addition, the Council approved the establishment of respective FIFA subsidiaries to manage the organization of the 2023 Women’s World Cup 2023 in Australia and New Zealand and the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA.

The 71st FIFA Congress will be broadcast live on FIFA.com Friday at 9 a.m. ET.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.