Canada gets 2015 Women's World Cup of soccer
FIFA rubber-stamped Canadian bid on Thursday
By John F. Molinaro, CBC Sports
Last Updated: Mar 3, 2011 8:57 AM ET Comments0Recommend3
Germany defeated Brazil in the final of the 2007 FIFA World Cup in China. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
It's official: The best women's soccer players in the world are coming to Canada.
FIFA, soccer's world governing body, on Thursday officially named Canada as the host nation of the 2015 Women's World Cup, rubber-stamping its bid after Zimbabwe pulled out of the running earlier in the week.
Zimbabwe was Canada's lone opposition, so when it withdrew from the race, Canada was virtually assured of staging the competition — all that was left to do was for FIFA was to formally evaluate and approve Canada's bid.
As a result of Thursday's proclamation, Canada will also stage the Women's Under-20 World Cup in 2014.
Canada previously hosted the inaugural women's Under-20 World Cup in 2002, as well as the men's Under-17 World Cup (in 1987) and the men's Under-20 World Cup (in 2007).
The Canadian government has already committed up to $15 million in funding to the Canadian Soccer Association to run the 2015 tournament.
Seven cities were involved in Canada's bid for the 2015 World Cup: Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Montreal, Ottawa, Moncton, N.B., and Halifax. Six cities host games at the tournament, so one city will have to be eliminated from the mix.
Toronto was not part of the bid because it will host the 2015 Pan American Games.
Thursday's announcement was the latest good news to befall Canadian soccer.
Last week, the men's Under-17 team reached the final of the CONCACAF championship, earning a spot at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico this summer. It marked the first time the Canadians qualified for the World Cup in 16 years.
Members of the women's senior team also recently lifted their boycott in support of embattled coach Carolina Morace, defeating Italy 1-0 in their opening game of the Cyprus Cup. The women are using the tournament as preparation for this year's World Cup, which runs from June 26 to July 17 in Germany. Canada plays the Germans on the first day of the tournament.
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