Carson to stage world showpiece
Monday, June 16, 2003
Article summary
The 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup final will be played in the 27,500-capacity Home Depot Center in California.
Article body
The 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup final will be played in the new 27,500-capacity Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
Reduced capacity
At a news conference announcing the schedule for the 16-nation tournament, United States Soccer Federation (USSF) president Dr. S. Robert Contiguglia defended the choice of the stadium for the 12 October final after the 1999 showpiece was held in the 90,000-seat Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
'Represents the future'
"Although one way to look at it is by the numbers in the stands, another is what is right for the athletes, what is right for the spectators," Contiguglia said. "We believe that the Home Depot Center represents the future of the sport in the United States. You step on that field and all you have to say is 'Wow, this is world class'. I hate to say this, but no American football stadium can compare."
Purpose-built stadium
The Home Depot Center was opened earlier this month as a purpose-built football stadium and is the new home of Major League Soccer team Los Angeles Galaxy and the training base for the US national team. April Heinrichs, coach of hosts and defending champions the United States, said the final in California is "going to be intimate and exciting.... It will be great for all athletes who play there".
Opening ceremony
Germany, Norway, Sweden, Russia and France will represent Europe in the tournament, whose opening ceremony will be held on 21 September at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. The action will start the previous day with two matches in Philadelphia. Washington, Columbus (Ohio), Portland (Oregon), and Carson will each host six games, while four will be staged in Foxboro (Massachusetts) and Philadelphia.
July draw
Organisers said the draw for the tournament would be held in mid-July. FIFA decided to move the Women's World Cup from China to the United States because of the SARS virus, which has infected more than 5,300 people in China and killed over 300. The United States staged the event four years ago and won the title, defeating China in the final.
