In just a few days, the sporting world will turn its eye to Canada as the FIFA Women’s World Cup begins on June 6th. The seventh time the Women’s World Cup has been contested, the 2015 edition sees Canada’s first hosting duties of a senior World Cup, having previously hosted the 1987 FIFA U-16 World Championship, the inaugural FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship (which drew record numbers for the final match) in 2002, the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
This 2015 edition also includes the expansion from 16 to 24 teams, the first time squads consist of 23 players (matching the men’s teams), and the first time a team, North Korea, has been banned from competition, due to numerous failed drugs tests.
Between June 6th and July 5th, Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal and Moncton will play host to 52 matches featuring the 24 qualifying teams, culminating with the Final at BC Place on July 5th.
Canada kicks off the action against China, on Saturday at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium. BC Place matches start on Monday with Group C action between Cameroon, Ecuador, Switzerland and 2011 Winners, Japan, on the newly installed Polytan LigaTurf.
BC Place also sees a pair of Round of 16 matches, a quarter-final and the Final on July 5th.
Tickets for FIFA Women’s World Cup are still available, find them here.