2015 FIFA Women's World Cup

2015 FIFA Women's World Cup
Coupe du Monde Féminine de la FIFA 2015
(French)

Tournament logo

2015 FIFA Women's World Cup official logo
Tournament details
Host country Canada
Dates 6 June – 5 July
Teams 24 (from 6 confederations)
Venue(s) 6 (in 6 host cities)

The 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup will be the seventh FIFA Women's World Cup, the quadrennial international women's football world championship tournament. In March 2011, Canada won the right to host the event. The tournament will be held from 6 June to 5 July.[1]

The top three teams from UEFA will qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics women's football tournament, to be held in Brazil.[2][3] As England is not an Olympic nation, their team is ineligible for the Olympics. If England are one of the top three teams, the last Olympic spot will go to the fourth-best UEFA team. The Football Association had originally declared on 2 March 2015 its intention to enter and run teams on behalf of the British Olympic Association at the 2016 Olympics should England qualify.[4] However, following strong objections from the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish football associations, as well as a commitment from FIFA that they would not allow entry of a British team unless all four Home Nations were in agreement, the Football Association announced on 30 March 2015 that they would not seek entry into the Olympic tournament.[5]

The tournament will use the Hawk-Eye system as goal-line technology for the first time.[6][7]

Host selection

The bidding for each FIFA Women's World Cup typically includes hosting rights for the previous year's FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup (similar to the men's version, in which the host nation stages the Confederations Cup the year before). Bids for the tournament were required to be submitted by December 2010. Only two bids were submitted:[8]

Zimbabwe withdrew on 1 March 2011.[10] The country was seen as a long shot, as its women's team was ranked 103rd in the world at the time of the bid, and has never qualified for a Women's World Cup. There is also ongoing political and economic instability in the country due to the Mugabe regime.[11]

Qualification

  Qualified
  Can still qualify
  Failed to qualify
  Did not enter
  Not a FIFA member

For this tournament, the number of teams was expanded from 16 to 24, with the number of matches increasing from 32 to 52.[12] On 11 June 2012, FIFA announced a change to the allocation of the qualifying berths for its continental confederations. The FIFA Executive Committee approved the following slot allocation and the distribution of eight new slots:[13]

After North Korea had several players test positive for performance-enhancing drugs during the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, FIFA banned the North Korean team from participating in the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada. This is the first time a women's team has ever been banned from a Women's World Cup, and it will be the first time since 1995 that North Korea will not participate in a Women's World Cup.[14]

Qualified teams

The latest FIFA ranking is used.

Team Qualified as Qualification date Appearance
in final		 Consecutive
streak		 Previous best performance FIFA
Ranking
 CanadaHosts 3 March 2011 6th6 Fourth place (2003)8
 China PR 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup top four 17 May 2014 6th 1 Runners-up (1999) 16
 South Korea 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup top four 17 May 2014 2nd 1 First Round (2003) 18
 Japan 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup top four 18 May 2014 7th 7 Winners (2011) 4
 Australia 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup top four 18 May 2014 6th 6 Quarterfinals (2007, 2011) 10
 Thailand 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup 5th place 21 May 2014 1st 1Debut 29
  Switzerland UEFA qualification group 3 winner 15 June 2014 1st 1 Debut 19
 England UEFA qualification group 6 winner 21 August 2014 4th 3Quarterfinals (1995, 2007, 2011) 6
 Norway UEFA qualification group 5 winner 13 September 2014 7th 7Winners (1995) 11
 Germany UEFA qualification group 1 winner 13 September 2014 7th 7Winners (2003, 2007) 1
 Spain UEFA qualification group 2 winner 13 September 2014 1st 1 Debut 14
 France UEFA qualification group 7 winner 13 September 2014 3rd 2 Fourth place (2011)3
 Sweden UEFA qualification group 4 winner 17 September 2014 7th 7 Runners-up (2003) 5
 Brazil 2014 Copa América Femenina top two26 September 20147th7Runners-up (2007)8
 Colombia 2014 Copa América Femenina top two28 September 20142nd2First Round (2011)28
 Nigeria 2014 African Women's Championship top two22 October 20147th7Quarterfinals (1999)33
 Cameroon 2014 African Women's Championship top two22 October 20141st1Debut 53
 Costa Rica 2014 CONCACAF Women's Championship top two24 October 20141st1Debut 37
 United States 2014 CONCACAF Women's Championship top two24 October 20147th7Winners (1991, 1999) 2
 Ivory Coast 2014 African Women's Championship third place 25 October 20141st1Debut 67
 Mexico 2014 CONCACAF Women's Championship third place 26 October 20143rd2First Round (1999, 2011)25
 New Zealand 2014 OFC Women's Nations Cup winner29 October 20144th3First Round (1991, 2007, 2011)17
 Netherlands UEFA qualification play-off winner27 November 20141st1Debut12
 Ecuador CONMEBOL-CONCACAF play-off winner 2 December 2014 1st 1Debut 48

Broadcasting

The 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup will mark the first year of new rights deals in two North American markets. In its host country of Canada, the competition will be televised by CTV and TSN through a new rights agreement with parent company Bell Media.[15][16] United States English-language television and radio rights will be held by Fox Sports, NBC-owned Telemundo will handle Spanish-language television broadcasts, and Spanish-language radio rights were given to Andrés Cantor's Fútbol de Primera radio network.[17] On 8 December 2014 FIFA signed a contract with EBU for 37 countries.[18]

Mascot

On 17 June 2014, the mascot of the tournament, Shuéme, a female great white owl was unveiled at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa.[19]

Venues

The cities of Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal and Moncton have been selected to host tournament matches.[20] Halifax was also considered, but removed itself from contention in March 2012.[21] Toronto decided not to bid, due to potential conflicts with the 2015 Pan American Games.[22] Due to FIFA's policy against commercial sponsorship of stadium names, Investors Group Field in Winnipeg and TD Place Stadium in Ottawa will respectively be known as Winnipeg Stadium[23] and Lansdowne Stadium[24] during the tournament.

Canada has previously hosted FIFA tournaments including the 1987 FIFA U-16 World Championship, 2002 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship and the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which set an attendance record for that tournament.

Vancouver Edmonton Winnipeg
BC Place Commonwealth Stadium Winnipeg Stadium
49°16′36″N 123°6′43″W / 49.27667°N 123.11194°W 53°33′35″N 113°28′34″W / 53.55972°N 113.47611°W 49°48′28″N 97°8′45″W / 49.80778°N 97.14583°W
Capacity: 54,500 Capacity: 56,302 Capacity: 33,422 (expandable to 40,000)
Surface: Polytan LigaTurf Surface: FieldTurf Duraspine Surface: FieldTurf Revolution
Ottawa Montreal Moncton
Lansdowne Stadium Olympic Stadium Moncton Stadium
45°23′53.44″N 75°41′1.14″W / 45.3981778°N 75.6836500°W 45°33′28″N 73°33′7″W / 45.55778°N 73.55194°W 46°6′30″N 64°47′0″W / 46.10833°N 64.78333°W
Capacity: 24,000 (expandable to 40,000) Capacity: 66,308 Capacity: 10,000 (expandable to 20,725 +)
Surface: FieldTurf Surface: Xtreme Turf Surface: FieldTurf

Squads

Each team's squad for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup will consist of 23 players (three of whom must be goalkeepers), two more than the 2011 tournament, and the same number as men's World Cup squads. Each participating national association has to confirm their final 23-player squad no later than 10 working days before the start of the tournament. Replacement of seriously injured players is permitted until 24 hours before the team in question's first World Cup game.[25]

Match officials

A total of 22 referees, 7 support referees, and 44 assistant referees were selected for the tournament.[26][27]

Confederation Referee
AFC Rita Gani (Malaysia)
Abirami Naidu (Singapore)
Qin Liang (China)
Ri Hyang-ok (North Korea)
Sachiko Yamagishi (Japan)
CAF Gladys Lengwe (Zambia)
Therese Neguel (Cameroon)
Ledya Tafesse (Ethiopia)
CONCACAF Quetzalli Alvarado (Mexico)
Melissa Borjas (Honduras)
Carol Chenard (Canada)
Margaret Domka (United States)
Michelle Pye (Canada)
Lucia Venegas (Mexico)
CONMEBOL Salomé di Iorio (Argentina)
Yeimy Martinez (Colombia)
Olga Miranda (Paraguay)
Claudia Umpierrez (Uruguay)
OFC Anna-Marie Keighley (New Zealand)
Tupou Patia (Cook Islands)
UEFA Teodora Albon (Romania)
Stéphanie Frappart (France)
Katalin Kulcsár (Hungary)
Pernilla Larsson (Sweden)
Efthalia Mitsi (Greece)
Kateryna Monzul (Ukraine)
Esther Staubli (Switzerland)
Bibiana Steinhaus (Germany)
Carina Vitulano (Italy)
Confederation Assistant referees
AFC Cui Yongmei (China)
Fang Yan (China)
Allyson Flynn (Australia)
Sarah Ho (Australia)
Hong Kum-nyo (North Korea)
Kim Kyoung-min (South Korea)
Widiya Shamsuri (Malaysia)
Naomi Teshirogi (Japan)
CAF Ayawa Dzodope (Togo)
Bernadettar Kwimbira (Malawi)
Souad Oulhaj (Morocco)
Lidwine Rakotozafinoro (Madagascar)
CONCACAF Elizabeth Aguilar (El Salvador)
Princess Berown (Jamaica)
Enedina Caudillo (Mexico)
Marie-Josée Charbonneau (Canada)
Mayte Chávez (Mexico)
Kimberly Moreira (Costa Rica)
Suzanne Morisset (Canada)
Shirley Perello (Honduras)
CONMEBOL Janette Arcanjo (Brazil)
Liliana Bejarano (Bolivia)
Mariana de Almeida (Argentina)
Luciana Mascaraña (Uruguay)
Maria Rocco (Argentina)
Loreto Toloza (Chile)
OFC Lata Kaumatule (Tonga)
Sarah Walker (New Zealand)
UEFA Natalie Aspinall (England)
Ella de Vries (Belgium)
Petruţa Iugulescu (Romania)
Chrysoula Kourompylia (Greece)
Angela Kyriakou (Cyprus)
Manuela Nicolosi (France)
Anna Nyström (Sweden)
Michelle O'Neill (Republic of Ireland)
Tonja Paavola (Finland)
Yolanda Parga (Spain)
Natalie Rachynska (Ukraine)
Katrin Rafalski (Germany)
Lucie Ratajová (Czech Republic)
Sanja Rođak-Karšić (Croatia)
Márii Súkeníkovej (Slovakia)
Marina Wozniak (Germany)

Draw

The draw was held on 6 December 2014 at 12:00 local time at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa, Canada.[28] The seeding pots were announced the day before. Other than two groups which have to contain two European teams, no group can contain more than one team from any confederation.[29]

Pot 1 (Seeds) Pot 2 (CAF, CONCACAF, OFC) Pot 3 (AFC, CONMEBOL) Pot 4 (UEFA)

 Canada (hosts)
 Brazil
 France
 Germany
 Japan
 United States

 Cameroon
 Ivory Coast
 Nigeria
 Costa Rica
 Mexico
 New Zealand

 Australia
 China PR
 South Korea
 Thailand
 Colombia
 Ecuador

 England
 Netherlands
 Norway
 Spain
 Sweden
  Switzerland

Controversies

Group stage

The provisional match schedule for the tournament was released on 21 March 2013,[35] with the hosts, Canada, placed in position A1. The final schedule with match times was released on the same day right after the draw was made.[36]

  Champion
  Runner-up
  Third place
  Fourth place
  Quarter-finals
  Round of 16
  Group stage

The first round, or group stage, sees the twenty four teams divided into six groups of four teams. Each group is a round-robin of six games, where each team plays one match against each of the other teams in the same group. Teams are awarded three points for a win, one point for a draw and none for a defeat. The winners and runners-up from each group, as well as the best four third-placed teams, will qualify for the first round of the knockout stage.[25]

The ranking of each team in each group will be determined as follows:

  1. points obtained in all group matches;
  2. goal difference in all group matches;
  3. number of goals scored in all group matches;

If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above three criteria, their rankings will be determined as follows:

  1. points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned;
  2. goal difference in the group matches between the teams concerned;
  3. number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned;
  4. drawing of lots by the FIFA Organising Committee.

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Group stage result
1  Canada (H) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to knockout stage
2  China PR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  New Zealand 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Knockout stage or elimination
4  Netherlands 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played on 6 June 2015. Source: FIFA
(H) Host.
6 June 2015
Canada  Match 1  China PR
New Zealand  Match 2  Netherlands
11 June 2015
China PR  Match 14  Netherlands
Canada  Match 13  New Zealand
15 June 2015
Netherlands  Match 25  Canada
China PR  Match 26  New Zealand

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Group stage result
1  Germany 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to knockout stage
2  Ivory Coast 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Norway 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Knockout stage or elimination
4  Thailand 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played on 7 June 2015. Source: FIFA
7 June 2015
Norway  Match 4  Thailand
Germany  Match 3  Ivory Coast
11 June 2015
Germany  Match 15  Norway
Ivory Coast  Match 16  Thailand
15 June 2015
Thailand  Match 27  Germany
Ivory Coast  Match 28  Norway

Group C

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Group stage result
1  Japan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to knockout stage
2   Switzerland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Cameroon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Knockout stage or elimination
4  Ecuador 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played on 8 June 2015. Source: FIFA
8 June 2015
Cameroon  Match 6  Ecuador
Japan  Match 5   Switzerland
12 June 2015
Switzerland   Match 18  Ecuador
Japan  Match 17  Cameroon
16 June 2015
Ecuador  Match 29  Japan
Switzerland   Match 30  Cameroon

Group D

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Group stage result
1  United States 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to knockout stage
2  Australia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Sweden 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Knockout stage or elimination
4  Nigeria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played on 8 June 2015. Source: FIFA
8 June 2015
Sweden  Match 8  Nigeria
United States  Match 7  Australia
12 June 2015
Australia  Match 20  Nigeria
United States  Match 19  Sweden
16 June 2015
Nigeria  Match 31  United States
Australia  Match 32  Sweden

Group E

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Group stage result
1  Brazil 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to knockout stage
2  South Korea 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Spain 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Knockout stage or elimination
4  Costa Rica 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played on 9 June 2015. Source: FIFA
9 June 2015
Spain  Match 10  Costa Rica
Brazil  Match 9  South Korea
13 June 2015
Brazil  Match 21  Spain
South Korea  Match 22  Costa Rica
17 June 2015
Costa Rica  Match 33  Brazil
South Korea  Match 34  Spain

Group F

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Group stage result
1  France 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to knockout stage
2  England 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Colombia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Knockout stage or elimination
4  Mexico 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played on 9 June 2015. Source: FIFA
9 June 2015
France  Match 11  England
Colombia  Match 12  Mexico
13 June 2015
France  Match 23  Colombia
England  Match 24  Mexico
17 June 2015
Mexico  Match 35  France
England  Match 36  Colombia

Ranking of third-placed teams

The four best teams among those ranked third will be determined as follows:[25]

Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Result
1 A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Knockout stage
2 B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 E 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 F 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played on 6 June 2015. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) drawing of lots.

Those teams which advance will be placed with the winners of groups A, B, C and D according to a table published in Section 28 of the tournament regulations.[25]

Knockout stage

Bracket

The knockout stage comprises the sixteen teams that advanced from the group stage of the tournament. There are four rounds of matches, with each round eliminating half of the teams entering that round. The successive rounds are the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final. There is also a play-off to decide third and fourth place. For each game in the knockout stage, any draw at 90 minutes is followed by thirty minutes of extra time; if scores are still level, there is a penalty shootout to determine who progresses to the next round.[25]

 
Round of 16Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
              
 
 20 June – Edmonton
 
 
Runner-up Group A
 
 26 June – Ottawa
 
Runner-up Group C
 
Winner Match 37
 
 22 June – Edmonton
 
Winner Match 38
 
Winner Group D
 
 30 June – Montreal
 
3rd Group B / E / F
 
Winner Match 45
 
 20 June – Ottawa
 
Winner Match 46
 
Winner Group B
 
 26 June – Montreal
 
3rd Group A / C / D
 
Winner Match 39
 
 21 June – Montreal
 
Winner Match 40
 
Winner Group F
 
 5 July – Vancouver
 
Runner-up Group E
 
Winner Match 49
 
 21 June – Moncton
 
Winner Match 50
 
Winner Group E
 
 27 June – Edmonton
 
Runner-up Group D
 
Winner Match 41
 
 23 June – Vancouver
 
Winner Match 42
 
Winner Group C
 
 1 July – Edmonton
 
3rd Group A / B / F
 
Winner Match 47
 
 22 June – Ottawa
 
Winner Match 48Third Place
 
Runner-up Group B
 
 27 June – Vancouver 4 July – Edmonton
 
Runner-up Group F
 
Winner Match 43Loser Match 49
 
 21 June – Vancouver
 
Winner Match 44Loser Match 50
 
Winner Group A
 
 
3rd Group C / D / E
 

Round of 16

20 June 2015
16:00 EDT (UTC−4)
Winner Group B Match 39 3rd Group A / C / D

20 June 2015
17:30 MDT (UTC−6)
Runner-up Group A Match 37 Runner-up Group C

21 June 2015
14:00 ADT (UTC−3)
Winner Group E Match 41 Runner-up Group D

21 June 2015
16:00 EDT (UTC−4)
Winner Group F Match 40 Runner-up Group E

21 June 2015
16:30 PDT (UTC−7)
Winner Group A Match 44 3rd Group C / D / E

22 June 2015
17:00 EDT (UTC−4)
Runner-up Group B Match 43 Runner-up Group F

22 June 2015
18:00 MDT (UTC−6)
Winner Group D Match 38 3rd Group B / E / F

23 June 2015
19:00 PDT (UTC−7)
Winner Group C Match 42 3rd Group A / B / F

Quarterfinals

26 June 2015
16:00 EDT (UTC−4)
Winner Match 39 Match 46 Winner Match 40

26 June 2015
19:30 EDT (UTC−4)
Winner Match 37 Match 45 Winner Match 38

27 June 2015
14:00 MDT (UTC−6)
Winner Match 41 Match 47 Winner Match 42

27 June 2015
16:30 PDT (UTC−7)
Winner Match 43 Match 48 Winner Match 44

Semifinals

30 June 2015
19:00 EDT (UTC−4)
Winner Match 45 Match 49 Winner Match 46

1 July 2015
17:00 MDT (UTC−6)
Winner Match 47 Match 50 Winner Match 48

Third place play-off

4 July 2015
14:00 MDT (UTC−6)
Loser Match 49 Match 51 Loser Match 50

Final

5 July 2015
16:00 PDT (UTC−7)
Winner Match 49 Match 52 Winner Match 50

Controversies

Artificial turf

The venues will consist of fields with artificial turf which some believe make players more susceptible to injuries. Over 50 players are protesting against the use of turf on the basis of gender discrimination. They have filed a lawsuit challenging FIFA’s decision to play on artificial turf. The lawsuit states that FIFA would never have the Men's World Cup held on "unsafe" artificial turf and thus violates the Canadian Human Rights Act.[37][38][39] The 2012 Women's World Player of the Year, Abby Wambach noted "The men would strike playing on artificial turf."[40] The controversial issue of gender equality and an equal playing field for all has sparked debate in many countries around the world. A lawsuit was filed on 1 October 2014 in an Ontario tribunal court by a group of women's international soccer players against FIFA and the Canadian Soccer Association and specifically points out that in 1994 FIFA spent $2 million to plant natural grass over artificial turf in New Jersey and Detroit.[41] Various celebrities are showing their support for the women soccer players in defence of their lawsuit, including actor Tom Hanks, NBA superstar Kobe Bryant and US men's team keeper Tim Howard. Even with the possibility of boycotts, FIFA's head of women's competitions, Tatjana Haenni, has made it clear "We play on artificial turf and there's no Plan B."[42][43]

References

  1. ↑ "FIFA Calendar". FIFA. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  2. ↑ "QUALIFICATION SYSTEM – GAMES OF THE XXXI OLYMPIAD – RIO 2016 Original" (PDF). Comité Olímpico Portugal. 23 April 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  3. ↑ "Germany and Norway drawn together". UEFA.com. 6 December 2014.
  4. ↑ "Football Association wants Great Britain sides at Rio Olympics". BBC Sport. 2 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "Rio 2016: FA scraps plans for Great Britain football teams". BBC Sport. 30 March 2015.
  6. ↑ "Women's World Cup: Hawk-Eye to be used in Canada tournament". BBC Sport. 31 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "Hawk-Eye confirmed as goal-line technology provider for Canada 2015". FIFA.com. 31 March 2015.
  8. ↑ "Remarkable interest in hosting FIFA competitions". FIFA. 17 January 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  9. ↑ cbc.ca; Canada in mix for 2015 Women's World Cup; January 17, 2010
  10. ↑ "Zimbabwe withdraws bid to host 2015 Women's World Cup". BBC. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  11. ↑ Reed, Nigel (21 February 2011). "2015: The case for Canada". Cbc.ca. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  12. ↑ MacKinnon, John (1 December 2010). "The party's over ... what's next?". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  13. ↑ "Qualification slots for Canada 2015 confirmed". FIFA.com. 11 June 2012.
  14. ↑ "FIFA Disciplinary Committee decisions for Germany 2011". 25 August 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  15. ↑ "Bell Media lands deal for FIFA soccer from 2015 through 2022". TSN.ca. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  16. ↑ "FiFA awards further TV rights". FIFA. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  17. ↑ "FIFA awards US TV Rights". FIFA. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  18. ↑ "EBU & FIFA conclude media rights agreement". EBU. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  19. ↑ "FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ unveils official mascot". FIFA.com. 17 June 2014.
  20. ↑ "FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ Host Cities unveiled". FIFA.com. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  21. ↑ "No Halifax stadium for soccer World Cup". Thechronicleherald.ca. 27 March 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  22. ↑ "Canadian host cities for 2015 Women's World Cup unveiled". CBC.ca. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  23. ↑ "FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015™ Destination: Winnipeg". FIFA. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  24. ↑ "FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015™ Destination: Ottawa". FIFA. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 "Regulations FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™" (PDF). FIFA.com.
  26. ↑ "22 referees, 7 support referees and 44 assistant referees appointed for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015™". FIFA.com. 30 March 2015.
  27. ↑ "Referees and Assistant Referees for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™" (PDF). FIFA.com.
  28. ↑ "Final Draw to take place on 6 December". FIFA.com. 22 June 2014.
  29. ↑ "Details of Final Draw for Canada 2015". FIFA.com. 5 December 2014.
  30. ↑ "Canada 2015 hopefuls learn fate in Ottawa". FIFA.com. 6 December 2015.
  31. ↑ "Frauen-WM 2015: Gruppenauslosung verkommt zur Farce" (in German). Framba.de. 6 December 2014.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 "Results of the Women's World Cup draw include a group of death and controversy". SB Nation. 6 December 2014.
  33. ↑ "USA Draws The 'Group Of Death' In 2015 Women's World Cup". FiveThirtyEight.com. 6 December 2014.
  34. ↑ "RELIVE: The Final Draw for the FIFA Women's World Cup (video)". FIFA. 6 December 2014.
  35. ↑ FIFA Women's World Cup 2015 match schedule published. FIFA.com. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  36. ↑ "Match Schedule FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015" (PDF). FIFA.com. 16 February 2015.
  37. ↑ "FIFA visit to Moncton stadium overshadowed by turf lawsuit". CBC News. 2 October 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  38. ↑ Fox Sports. "USWNT stars not backing down on artificial playing surface stance". FOX Sports. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  39. ↑ "elite female players sue". espnW. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  40. ↑ "FIFA: The World Cup Should Be Played on Natural Grass". Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  41. ↑ "Equalizer Soccer – Players officially file lawsuit against FIFA, CSA over artificial turf at 2015 Women’s World Cup". Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  42. ↑ "Players file lawsuit in Canada over artificial Women’s World Cup turf". Global News. 1 October 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  43. ↑ "FIFA officials to inspect BC Place turf in light of controversy". Global News. 7 October 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2014.

External links