Canada Submits its Official Bid for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015

The Canadian Soccer Association made its official bid submission to FIFA today for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015 and FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2014.

The bid documents were submitted at FIFA House in Zurich, Switzerland to FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter and General Secretary Jerome Valcke with Director of Competitions Mustapha Fahmy also present.Officially welcomed to FIFA House were the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of State (Sport), Canadian Soccer Association President Dr. Dominic Maestracci, Vice-President Victor Montagliani, and General Secretary Peter Montopoli, along with bid consultant and internationally respected sports official Walter Sieber. During the meeting that followed, Minister Lunn assured FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter of Canada’s ability to host a very successful FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015 and FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2014.

"The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015 will play an important role in the development of young Canadian athletes for podium success on the international stage. It will provide Canada’s athletes with valuable international level training and competition experience at home," said the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of State (Sport). "I envision hugely successful tournaments in 2014 and 2015 with the financial assistance committed by the Government of Canada."

The bids for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015 and FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2014 will now be reviewed by the FIFA Executive Committee. An announcement is expected to be made following the FIFA Executive Committee meeting on March 3.

The Canadian Soccer Association has a strong history of hosting FIFA events, starting with the FIFA U-17 World Cup Canada 1987 which coincided with the Association’s 75th anniversary. The Canadian Soccer Association has since hosted the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada 2002 (inaugural event) and the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007. The record-setting 2007 event attracted close to 1.2 million spectators to the 52 matches and generated an estimated $259 million in economic activity across Canada. It delivered an excellent return for the government at the federal, provincial and municipal levels, supporting more than $43 million in taxes at those three levels.

"Canada can be proud of the large number of female soccer players in the country and the outstanding success of our women’s national teams on the international stage,” added Canadian Soccer Association President, Dr. Dominic Maestracci. "The Canadian Soccer Association would be honored to host both the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015 and the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2014 and provide an opportunity for the hundreds of thousands of female soccer players in Canada to be inspired by the world’s best playing the beautiful game in their own backyard."

The Canadian Soccer Association, in partnership with its members and all its corporate partners, provides leadership in the pursuit of excellence in soccer, both at the national and international levels. The Canadian Soccer Association not only strives to lead Canada to victory, but it also encourages Canadians towards a life-long passion for soccer.