New Zealand Football's governing committee for FIFA U-20 World Cup 2015 today considered a request from Hamilton City Council to make a late bid for Host City status.

New Zealand Football chair Frank van Hattum said the committee had considered the request after Hamilton City Council voted yesterday to reverse its decision last year not to bid. The committee agreed to accept a bid from Hamilton, and the city will enter the bid evaluation phase which is due to be carried out by the end of February.

"New Zealand Football appreciates the support shown by the business and sporting public in the Waikato and the readiness of Hamilton City Council to revisit the decision. The FIFA U-20 World Cup is FIFA's second-biggest event and 2015 will be a stunning year for football and sports followers generally in New Zealand, as well as for the communities that these top young players in the world visit.

"We are delighted at the significant support being offered by cities right across the country. Hamilton completes a first class bidding group."

Mr van Hattum said the committee had exercised its rights under the Request for Proposal provisions to allow or reject a late bid. In doing so it had focused on its responsibility to maintain good practice and observe public law obligations.

Other bidding councils had conformed with deadlines and so Hamilton's bid was non-conforming and would be evaluated accordingly. The city had also missed a phase of Question and Answer dialogue with councils and would enter the evaluation phase without that benefit.