Australia and New Zealand were celebrating on Friday as the nations awoke to the news that their joint bid had won the race to host the 2023 Women’s World Cup, with the success being hailed as a historic moment for women’s sport in the region.

“We did it. We freakin’ did it,” said Sam Kerr, the Matildas captain whose image had been projected onto Sydney’s Opera House in the buildup to the announcement in the small hours of Friday morning.

A host of other Matildas players, who now have the chance to lift a World Cup on home soil, joined Kerr in taking to social media to express their delight. “This is everything,” said Steph Catley. Hayley Raso said: “I cannot believe it. Goosebumps.”

New Zealand defender CJ Bott said the tournament was “going to be the absolute pinnacle and highlight of our careers”, while captain Ali Riley, who was a part of the Kiwi bid team, said she would “never forget this moment”.

“I just broke down when I heard,” Riley said. “This will be a chance in a lifetime to connect with fans. We barely play any home games – because we are so far away from everywhere else – so this is so epic.”

Former Socceroos captain Tim Cahill added his support: “I’m lost for words and want to say congratulations to Australia and New Zealand on this amazing achievement.”

“Commiserations to our Colombian friends,” Craig Foster, who left his football pundit post with SBS on Thursday, said. “We know full well how it feels to lose. The tournament is an important & timely boost for Australia & NZ & enhances the truly global nature of football.”

The successful bid was hailed as a “tremendous and exciting step forward”, not only for women’s football but for the visibility and contribution of women in sport more broadly.

“Women’s sport in Australia has gained significant social and commercial momentum in recent years, with the women’s T20 World Cup cricket final attracting a record-breaking crowd and the landmark equal pay deal for the Matildas and the Socceroos,” Our Watch CEO Patty Kinnersly said.

“These critical moments highlight the power of sport to promote gender equality and encourage positive social change, which in turn can prevent violence against women by creating inclusive, equitable and safe environments for men and women, boys and girls.”

The trans-Tasman bid received 22 of the 35 valid votes from the Fifa Council to pip Colombia for the showpiece event which will take place between July and August in 2023.

It will take place across 12 cities in Australia and New Zealand, with the opening match to be played at Eden Park in Auckland and the final in Sydney.

Despite being overwhelming favourites to win, the joint bid had a nervous wait after a late surge for Colombia, prompted by the backing of the Uefa voting block.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino said Australia and New Zealand were the perfect hosts to deliver the greatest ever Women’s World Cup.

“There will 32 countries unlike in France where we had 24 which means when you qualify for this event it is the biggest boost ever for women’s football,” said Infantino.

“We welcome that and I am sure we will have the best World Cup ever, in Australia and New Zealand.”

Australia’s prime minister, Scott Morrison, and his New Zealand counterpart, Jacinda Ardern, said it would be largest and best Women’s World Cup ever.

“This is a huge positive for the footballing and sporting industries on both sides of the Tasman as we recover and rebuild from Covid-19,” they said in a joint statement.

“As sporting nations we have had a long history of producing some of the best female footballers in the world and this tournament will further inspire our next generation and provide the platform for them to compete on the world stage.”

Leader of the opposition in Australia, Anthony Albanese, said: “You can’t be what you can’t see – and a whole generation of young girls won’t forget seeing this.”

Matches will be held in 12 cities, with Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Newcastle, Launceston to be the Australian hosts. Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton and Dunedin will host the New Zealand fixtures alongside Auckland.

The Football Federation Australia chairman, Chris Nikou, said the successful bid was an enormous opportunity to grow football in the region.

“Fifa today has made not one but two countries very happy,” said Nikou. “We know there is a lot of work to be done.

“But our pledge to the Fifa family is that no stone will be left unturned to produce the best World Cup and grow the women’s game globally and in the Asia-Pacific region.”

The New Zealand Football Federation president, Johanna Wood, promised the two nations would work together to deliver a tournament to remember.

“We’ve always said with this bid that it is as one and making history and creating opportunities,” she said. “Chris mentioned when he spoke to council that this is a gift we have been given and we add to that by saying we have been given a treasure.

“We will look after the treasure and make women’s football even more front and centre and we will do that as a team.”