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Monday, October 20, 2014

New milestones for women's football set during FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 Qualifiers

16 October 2014

Next June, the FIFA Women's World Cup will establish a few milestones when the finals are contested by 24 nations over 52 matches for the first time. The growth translates to one or two more nations per confederation, a reflection of the continued advancement made by women's football across the world.
This week, the FIFA Women's World Cup reaches a milestone in the preliminary phase as the competition sets a new record for participating nations. On Thursday 16 October 2014, Mexico becomes the 124th nation to participate in the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015.
In all, 129 nations will participate in the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015, six more than the 123 that participated at Germany 2011. That marks nearly triple the participating nations from the inaugural competition for the first FIFA Women's World Cup in 1991 (just 45 nations).
Canada, who inaugurated its women's national program in 1986, will serve as the perfect hosts for the FIFA Women's World Cup final competition from 6 June to 5 July 2015. The competition will be hosted from coast to coast across Canada in six cities, culminating with the Final Match in Vancouver.
So far, 15 finalists have been confirmed, with seven more to be decided by 26 October. The last two finalists will be decided in November, followed by the Official Draw on 6 December.
The FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 Qualifiers run 4 April 2013 to 27 November 2014. This month, the CAF African Women's Championship runs 11-25 October, the CONCACAF Women's Championship runs 15-26 October, and the OFC Women's Nations Cup runs 21-25 October.
For more information, please visit FIFA.com/Canada2015.

Edmonton Victoria SC repeats as Canadian champions

Edmonton Victoria SC has won its fifth national title in 11 years, capturing the 2014 Jubilee Trophy at Canada Soccer's annual national championships. The Edmonton-based club won the women's title with a 1:0 win over Surrey United in the Monday 13 October final.
Second-half substitute Kayla Michaels was the hero with the lone strike of the match, taking advantage of a loose ball in the box following a Taryne Boudreau corner kick. The 22-year old Michaels was one of 10 Edmonton players that was part of the winning side in both 2013 and 2014.
"It's all a blur," said goal scorer Michaels. "We didn't have many corners in the game, but we finally got one. Taryne had a great cross in, I think someone won it, then it was just a scramble and I got a prime toe-poke to get it in."
Midfielder Boudreau, a former CONCACAF youth champion and a newcomer to the Edmonton Victoria squad, was the MVP of the 2014 championship match.
"There were a lot of nerves, but a couple of us were here for the first time," said Boudreau. "I was just trying to play my game, keep it simple, pass the ball around, control it and calm everyone down. I think once we got a rhythm going and moving the ball, we played our game."
The Jubilee Trophy is one of the oldest national women's competitions in the world, now in its 33rd year since it was introduced by the Canadian Soccer Association in 1982. After regional playdowns across the country, eight finalists reach the final week to vie for the Jubilee Trophy.
Edmonton, a host city for next year's FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015, has a strong track record in the Jubilee Trophy competition. In fact, 13 of the 33 finals have been won by Edmonton clubs, with the old Edmonton Angels winning a record eight times between 1982 and 2000. In the last 11 years, Edmonton Victoria has won the trophy in 2004, 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2014.

Liverpool wins Women's Super League title
Liverpool retained their English league title on goal difference amid a dramatic conclusion to the English season. The Reds started the final day in third and needing three results to go in their favour. Liverpool somehow overhauled Chelsea and second-placed Birmingham, finishing equal on points with the Londoners but two goals clear. Liverpool, who are unbeaten since July, did their part by easing to a 3-0 win over Bristol Academy. Chelsea started the day as leaders but slipped to a 2-1 defeat against Manchester City who triumphed thanks to a Jill Scott strike, before a sensational volley from Toni Duggan proved to be the winner. Birmingham slipped to third with a 2-2 draw against Notts County, where a winner for the midlands team would have been enough to win the league.
READ MORE at FIFA.com

2015 proclaimed the Year of Sport in Canada
In a ceremony held on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, ON on 16 October, his Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, proclaimed 2015 the Year of Sport in Canada. The Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport) and Peter Montopoli, Canada Soccer General Secretary and CEO of the National Organizing Committee of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015TM were also in attendance.
The Year of Sport in Canada is a proactive pan-Canada initiative to celebrate the role that sport plays in our country and encourage Canadians to participate in and seek the benefits of sport. During the year, sport events and other celebratory activities will highlight how sport benefits Canadians.
“In 2015, Canadians from across the country will have many opportunities to cheer on our remarkable athletes and celebrate their achievements,” said the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport). “With events such as the World Junior Hockey Championship, the Canada Winter Games, the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015TM, the Pan and Parapan American Games and many others, 2015 will be a memorable year for all Canadians—an opportunity not only to attend sport events, but also to be inspired to participate in sport activities throughout the year.”

CONCACAF to Host “Let’s Develop Women’s Football” Seminar

CONCACAF will host a top-level conference focusing on development in women’s football this 25-26 October in Philadelphia, held in conjunction with the 2014 CONCACAF Women's Championship (which also serve as FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 Qualifiers).
“Let’s Develop Women’s Football” is a unique two-day event designed with three main goals in mind: educating stakeholders about the current status of women in football in the region and around the world; promoting the various opportunities that women’s football offers; and inspiring stakeholders to continue to invest in and improve the women’s game.
“The seminar will be a true celebration of women’s football and will further establish CONCACAF’s commitment to the women’s game by highlighting the success stories of our region and providing our Member Associations with new strategies and ideas,” said President Jeffrey Webb.
From the first day on 25 October, a series of five panels will be streamed live online via CONCACAF.com. The five panels are:
Football Changed My Life
Elite Player Development
Hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup
Football Pathways
Women’s Professional Football Leagues
For more information as well as a list of confirmed speakers, please visit CONCACAF.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.
More than 125 countries will participate in the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015™ starting with Qualifiers in April 2013. The final competition - to be played from 6 June to 5 July 2015 in Canada - will feature the 24 best women's football teams from around the world.
The FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015™ is sure to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for this country with 52 matches from coast to coast across Canada. The competition hopes to draw 1.5 million spectators through ticket sales while attracting a worldwide television audience of more than half a billion viewers. The competition will also engage terrific impact for our cities and provinces, with an estimated cumulative economic impact of $267 million.
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.

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