U-20 women cap Germany's golden summer

28 August 2014 Given how the past few months have unfolded, could it really have been anyone else? Germany's footballers seem to be in the midst of a period in which everything they touch turns to gold, and Canada 2014 proved to be no exception. But while the concluding images of celebrating, white-shirted players were strikingly familiar, the way in which Maren Meinert's women's U-20s seized glory differed substantially to the world and Europe-conquering senior and U-19 men. "We spent the whole summer cheering on the men in Brazil, and their success definitely motivated us," Meinert said after lifting the trophy. "We didn't necessarily expect to follow them and be standing here as champions, but we're very proud - and the quality of teams we've beaten along the way makes us especially so." MORE : FIFA.com Oshoala leads the way as individuals recognised After 32 games the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada 2014 has come to an end, with Germany overcoming Nigeria to win the trophy for a third time and France sealing third place. A clutch of individual awards were also handed out on Sunday, none more important than the adidas Golden Ball, presented to the tournament’s most outstanding player. The top three in the race for the award at Canada 2014 was as follows: adidas Golden Ball: Asisat Oshoala (NGA) adidas Silver Ball: Griedge Mbock Bathy (FRA) adidas Bronze Ball: Claire Lavogez (FRA) MORE : FIFA.com Tickets to the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 Final on sale 10 September Your first chance to buy tickets to the Final Match of the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015™ will be next month with the launch of tickets sales on 10 September. Tickets to the championship match - to be played 5 July at BC Place in Vancouver - will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. To be eligible to buy tickets to the Final Match in the first phase of ticket sales, fans must purchase either a Stadium Passport or Stadium Half Pass. The Final Match will be available as a purchasable add-on for any of the official host cities, when an individual is completing their Stadium Passport or Stadium Half Passes. The Final Match must be added at the time of a Stadium Passport or Stadium Half Pass purchase. Fans can order a maximum of six tickets to the Final Match. With a commitment to ensure the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 is accessible and affordable, prices to the Final Match start at just $50 for Category 4. Prices for other categories are $85 for Category 3, $125 for Category 2, and $165 for Category 1. MORE : FIFA.com USA: And then there were two A new name will be etched on the NWSL champions’ silverware after Seattle Reign and Kansas City won their way through to next Sunday’s decider. Runaway leaders Seattle were made to work overtime before quelling the challenge of Washington Spirit, with Reign goalkeeper Hope Solo making a decisive penalty stop. Veronica Perez put Washington in front only for Seattle to draw level from the penalty spot via the familiar figure of NWSL leading goalscorer Kim Little. Solo then blocked a spot-kick from Dianne Matheson, allowing Megan Rapinoe to complete the comeback by rifling home the winner with eight minutes remaining. The other match was a more straight forward affair with home side Kansas defying the heat and a star-studded Portland Thorns’ forward line thanks to second-half goals from Amy Rodriguez and Lauren Holiday. MORE : FIFA.com "To a greater goal™" Canada will host the FIFA Women's World Cup™ in 2015 from coast to coast across the country. The Official Slogan “To a greater goal™” was created to celebrate not only the competition but also all female players around the world. The Official Slogan “To a greater goal™” contains a dual message that embodies the essence of this world-class competition: a vision for team sport and a vision for women. 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, British Columbia; Edmonton, Alberta; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Ottawa, Ontario; Montréal, Québec; and Moncton, New Brunswick. 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 national 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 Montopoli.

Canada 2015 Stadium Passports will go on sale this 10 September Tickets to the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015™ will go on sale this 10 September 2014, with the initial phase to offer Stadium Passports that feature tickets for every match at a particular Official Host City. Each Stadium Passport applies only to the Official Host City and stadium selected. For fans who want the Stadium Passport experience, but can’t attend all the matches, a Stadium Half Pass will be available for Vancouver, Edmonton and Montréal. Stadium Passport or Stadium Half Pass purchasers will also have the first opportunity to purchase tickets for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 championship final at BC Place on 5 July 2015, subject to availability with no discounts. Why buy a Stadium Passport or Stadium Half Pass? • Save up to 25 per cent over individual ticket prices • Enjoy the same seat for every match • Share tickets with family and friends if you cannot attend all matches FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015™ Match Schedule | 6 June to 5 July 2015 Canadians at the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ 40 WEEKS UNTIL THE FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP CANADA 2015™: Sixty-four different players have represented Canada at five editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ (from 1995 to 2011). A different player will be featured each week as we countdown the weeks to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™. MICHELLE RING: Michelle Ring represented Canada at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Sweden 1995™, Canada’s first participation in the global event. At the time, she was one of the country’s most experienced players, in fact sharing a national record with 29 consecutive appearances from 1993 to 1995 (at the time shared with Charmaine Hooper, but soon surpassed by Geraldine Donnelly). Seven years earlier, Ring had represented Canada at the 1988 Women’s International Tournament, a FIFA invitational tournament in China PR. An original member of Canada’s first-ever national team in 1986, she later became an honoured member of The Soccer Hall of Fame in 2005. She is also a member of the University of British Columbia Hall of Fame (1996) and the Abbotsford Sports Hall of Fame (2006). STATS FIFA.com | Profile on CANADASOCCER.com 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. Media Contacts Richard ScottDirector Communications National Organising Committee FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015™ richard.scott@fwwc2015.ca C 613.818.0305 Carrie CroftManager Communications National Organising Committee FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 carrie.croft@fwwc2015.ca C 613.406.4986 For all questions pertaining to Canada's women's national team, please contact: Michèle DionCanadian Soccer Association mdion@soccercan.ca C 416.797.9192