EDMONTON – Edmonton will host the Canadian soccer team in the opening match and 10 other games for the 2015 Women’s World Cup, FIFA announced Thursday.
Edmonton will have more games than any of the other five Canadian cities sharing hosting duties for the 30-day tournament, Peter Montopoli, general secretary of the Canadian Soccer Association, told a City Hall news conference.
“We felt they could do a great job for women’s football and Canada,” he said, adding Edmonton has a strong history with the success of the 2002 U-18 women’s tournament.
“The opening match really sets the stage for the entire competition.”
The entire match schedule is at fifa.com.
Commonwealth Stadium will be the site of the first and second group matches of the 24-team tournament June 6, along with two more games on each of June 11 and June 16.
There will be round-of-16 games in Edmonton June 20 and June 22, quarter-finals June 27, a semifinal July 1 and the bronze-medal match July 4.
Although the July 5 final will be played in Vancouver, one city official pleased with the schedule said: “We made out like bandits.”
Mayor Stephen Mandel was also overjoyed at the prospect of seeing Canada play in Edmonton repeatedly, including in the semifinal if it wins Group A.
“I was getting chills down my back thinking about 60,000 people in the stadium, all wearing red and screaming for Canada,” Mandel said.
“I think it’s going to be one of the most special moments our city has ever seen.”
Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal and Moncton are also hosting the tournament.
Read it on Global News: Global Edmonton | Edmonton hosting opener with Canada in 2015 Women’s World Cup of Soccer
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