By Paul Nicholson in Grand Cayman
October 23 – Canadian FA president Victor Montagliani has pledged to put on the best ever women’s World Cup in 2015 which, he says, will be a “game changer” for the sport in his country.
But before then, the Concacaf region, which has 10 million registered female footballers, will host the under-20 women’s World Cup, also in Canada, and the under-17 version in Costa Rica – both next year.
“It has been said the future of football is women. In CONCACAF that future is now,” Montagliani told the CONCACAF Sports Summit here, adding that the region was an accepted leader in the integration of women players across its member federations.
In Canada the impact of the women’s game is measurable by the fact that only the national women’s team, in games against Mexico and the United States, have managed to fill the 26,000 capacity Vancouver stadium. MLS franchise the Vancouver Whitecaps have yet to record a sellout crowd.
Montagliani said the decision to award Canada hosting rights for the 2014 U20 World Cup a year in advance of the full edition was a sound move. “It gives us an opportunity to test the infrastructure on the technical and ticketing, and prepare for a major event.”
Montagliani wants the 2015 event to break previous records of 1.5 million tickets sales and 400 million TV viewers. If public awareness is a measure of whether this can be achieved or not, then the latest research figures will give the organisers comfort. “92 percent of Canadians are aware FIFA is coming to Canada,” said Montagliani. “This is a lifetime opportunity for the country to put on a world-class event.”
Canada has invested $309 million in infrastructure ,with two new stadia and the upgrading of four others. A further $42 million has been contributed towards the expenses of the event which will take place in six cities covering five time zones.
The economic impact of hosting the event is expected to be about $235 million in revenue for the country and the creation of 1,200 full-time jobs.
“This event is a game changer for the sport,” said Montagliani. “It will engage the nation and build soccer in Canada. It will create consumers of the game and establish a new era.”
Canada, with Mexico and the US, has already partnered to establish a women’s professional football league, the first season of which has just finished. Based on eight teams in the US, the Mexican and Canadian federations have each supplied 16 players to team squads. In future it is expected that the league will expand with new teams into Mexico and Canada themselves.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734902959labto1734902959ofdlr1734902959owedi1734902959sni@n1734902959osloh1734902959cin.l1734902959uap1734902959