CANADA 2015 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP: Asia's FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 Qualifiers start on Tuesday May 21, 2013

 

16 May 2013

The next series of FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 Qualifiers will get underway Tuesday 21 May 2013 as Asia becomes the second confederation to enter the competition. There will be 16 teams competing in this preliminary phase, with just four group winners advancing to the final Asian round of eight teams in 2014.

From 21-26 May, there will be six matches played in each of three venues: Dhaka, Bangladesh, West Bank, Palestine and Manama, Bahrain. From 5-9 June, another six matches will be played in Amman, Jordan.

“I would like to congratulate all Asian nations participating in FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 Qualifiers beginning this 21 May,” said Peter Montopoli, Chief Executive Officer of the National Organising Committee.“It is perhaps fitting that this preliminary phase begins during Asian Heritage Month in Canada, with 16 teams competing in four venues from 21 May to 9 June. In two short years, our country will welcome at least one of these 16 nations for a once-in-a-lifetime experience at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015.”
Indeed, as five teams are set to qualify out of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2014, at least one team from this round of Asian Qualifiers in 2013 will make it all the way to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015.
Group A in Amman, Jordan (starting 5 June 2013):
Kuwait, Lebanon, Uzbekistan and host Jordan
Group B in Dhaka, Bangladesh (starting 21 May 2013):
Iran, Philippines, Thailand and host Bangladesh
Group C in Manama, Bahrain (starting 22 May 2013):
Hong Kong, Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam and host Bahrain
Group D in West Bank, Palestine (starting 21 May 2013):
Chinese Taipei, India, Myanmar and host Palestine

Details on the route to the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 can be found via the Qualifiers tab on the FIFA.com/Canada2015 competition landing page.

Asian Heritage Month has been recognised in Canada since 2002, providing Canadians with an opportunity to “celebrate the contributions of Canadians of Asian heritage to the growth and prosperity of Canada.”

Referees dreaming of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015

Potential referee candidates for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 are meeting this week in Zurich for the first time, with 40 women from 33 different countries taking part in the week-long referees' seminar from 13 to17 May 2013.

"This is an incredibly important seminar," Sonia Denoncourt, Head of Women's Referees at FIFA, explained to FIFA.com. "It is the first real step towards choosing candidates for the Women's World Cup 2015 in Canada. The event is two-and-a-half years away and we are starting off with a large group of female referees. We'll be testing them and then selecting the best at the end."

The 40 candidates were officially welcomed by FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter “I would like to congratulate you on being selected for the Referees project for the World Cup in Canada in 2015,” said Blatter. “The preparations ahead of the tournament are incredibly important.”

The FIFA President thanked the various referees for their work they had put in on behalf of football so far and wished them all the very best in their preparations for Canada 2015: “You dedicate a significant part of your lives to football, a game of self-discipline and respect, and one that represents a battle where fair play must reign. And you are the ones who oversee these games.”

To read the full story, please visit FIFA.com/Canada2015.

VfL Wolfsburg wins Bundesliga, prepare for UEFA Champions League final

On Sunday 13 May in the last round of Bundesliga fixtures, VfL Wolfsburg claimed the first of three possible trophies, comfortably beating SC Bad Neuenahr 4:0 to seal the national league title for the first time in their history. Germany coach Silvia Neid looked on as Martina Müller fired a brace, with Conny Pohlers and Nadine Keßler rounding off the scoring.
“It's just indescribable and I'm still speechless,” Keßler was quoted as saying on the club homepage, before adding:“I'm delighted we were so calm throughout this game, and that we've not won the league on goal difference. We've all put in so much effort and it's been an unforgettable day for everyone here."

Wolfsburg now meet Turbine Potsdam in the German cup final on 19 May, before travelling to London for the UEFA Champions League final against Olympique Lyon four days later on 23 May.

To read more on the week in women’s club football, please visit FIFA.com.

Canadian camp features FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup hopefuls

As hosts, Canada is currently the only qualified team for next year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada 2014. The competition –which runs 5-24 August 2014 – will feature players born 1994 or later from 16 nations.

Canada’s most recent EXCELeration youth camp – which features a mix of players aged 17-23 – features eight FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada 2014 hopefuls. The camp takes place 15-19 May in Morgantown, WV, USA.

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FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015

The FIFA Women's World Cup is held every four years, with the next edition to be played in Canada in 2015. It marks the first major sporting event hosted in Canada from coast to coast, with matches to be played in Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montréal and Moncton. The FIFA Women's World Cup will feature the 24 best women's football teams in the world.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 will be preceded one year earlier by the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, one of two FIFA women’s youth tournaments. The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup returns to Canada for the first time since 2002. The FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Canada 2014 will feature 16 teams featuring players born 1994 or later.

The National Organising Committee for the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 features Victor Montagliani (chair), Steven Reed, Janine Helland, Doug Redmond, Clare Rustad, Walter Sieber and Peter

Women's Football

2013-05-11W-League season begins (with Canadian division beginning 2013-05-22)

2013-05-21,23,25
FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 Qualifiers in Bangladesh and Palestine

2013-05-22,24,26
FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 Qualifiers in Bahrain

2013-05-23
UEFA Women's Champions League final

2013-06-01,02
FIFA Women's International Window

2013-06-05,07,09
FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 Qualifiers in Jordan

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Official Website and Media Channel

The official website for the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 is FIFA.com/canada2015. The site will provide both pre-competition and competition coverage, including links to ticket information and ticket sales. Coverage will be provided in six languages (English, French, German, Spanish, Arabic and Portugese).

The FIFA Media Channel (http://media.fifa.com) is a media-only, password-protected service with specific content tailored to support journalists, photographers and other media professionals. Please note that all journalists must be registered on the FIFA Media Channel to be eligible for accreditation to FIFA events.

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Media Contacts
Richard ScottDirector Communications
National Organising Committee
FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015
richard.scott@fwwc2015.ca
C 613.818.0305

For all questions pertaining to Canada's women's national team, please contact:
Max BellCanadian Soccer Association
mbell@soccercan.ca
C 416.797.9192