Finally! (Canada to host 2007 U20 WC)

[fearnsey]

http://canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=1839

Canadian Soccer Association

Tuesday, August 10, 2004

FIFA Awards 2007 World Youth Championship To Canada

Ottawa, Ontario - At a media conference held in Toronto today, the Federation Internationale de Football Association, FIFA, announced the 2007 edition of the FIFA World Youth Championships will be staged in Canada.

FIFA Vice President and CONCACAF President Jack Warner of Trinidad and Tobago, confirmed that the FIFA Emergency Committee, at its meeting held in Zurich on August 6, unanimously awarded the Championship to CSA.

“It gives me a great deal of pleasure to confirm that this awarding of the 2007 FIFA World Youth Championship has been taken by FIFA as a result of the Emergency Committee meeting,” stated Warner. “Recent meetings between FIFA and CSA have led to agreement on most issues related to the staging of this event and as a result of this and the decision by FIFA to stage this Championship in Canada, the construction of Varsity Stadium can now fully proceed.”

In his letter to CSA President Sharpe, FIFA President Blatter praised the Association for the “…outstanding organization of the inaugural FIFA U-19 Women’s Championship in 2002 and the professional approach that you and your team has taken in requesting to host this tournament. We thank you for your kind cooperation and very much look forward to working with you for the 2007 edition of the FIFA World Youth Championship.”

A major factor in FIFA agreeing to move the timetable forward concerning awarding this event to CSA was the recent decision by the Governments of Canada and Ontario on May 21, 2004 to financially support the development of Varsity Stadium with a joint $35 million contribution to this project. The only condition cited in the awarding of this grant was the requirement by FIFA to stage the World Youth Championship in Canada in 2007.

“As a result of today’s announcement, we believe that FIFA has acted with unprecedented speed and that this shall now allow the University of Toronto, The Canadian Soccer Association and its other partners to proceed with the construction of this state of the art, 25,000 seat, $80 million stadium so that it will be ready to host the Championship’s official opening ceremonies and opening match featuring Canada, tentatively set for July 1, 2007,” concluded Warner.

“On behalf of the 900,000 playing members of CSA, I want to thank FIFA for the unique way in which they have responded to our request to host this event,” stated CSA President Andy Sharpe. “The faith and trust they have invested in the CSA will be repaid with energy and commitment in ensuring that this U-20 Men’s World Youth Championship will be the best ever event in the history of FIFA. We will spare no effort over the next three years to achieve success and will now commence immediate work with FIFA to ensure we move forward with speed to begin immediate work on this, the biggest event CSA has ever held. ”

The FIFA World Youth Championship is a three- week long, 24 nation, 52-match tournament featuring the best young 20-year-old players in the world. It is the second largest event staged by FIFA after the FIFA World Cup, including such graduates as Maradona, Saviola, Luis Figo, Rui Costa, Bebeto and Dunga as well as Canada’s Craig Forrest and many members of the current Men’s World Cup Team including Julian de Guzman, Paul Stalteri, Atiba Hutchinson and Iain Hume.

Last held in CONCACAF in 1983 in Mexico, Canada’s most recent participation in this event occurred last December when its squad had its best ever finish, losing to eventual silver medalist Spain on a golden goal in the quarter finals in the United Arab Emirates.

The Championship will take place in six major stadiums in at least four major regions across Canada with the tentative dates for the tournament set for July 1-22, 2007.

[Bertuzzi44]

quote:Originally posted by fearnsey

The Championship will take place in six major stadiums in at least four major regions across Canada with the tentative dates for the tournament set for July 1-22, 2007.

...4 major regions? I wonder is they would consider Toronto/Montreal different regions or not.

I'm hoping for some games in Vancouver. Comon Whitecaps/Lions, get your sh!t together and build a psuedo-empire stadium!

[WhitecapsFCFan]

quote:Originally posted by Bertuzzi44

I'm hoping for some games in Vancouver. Comon Whitecaps/Lions, get your sh!t together and build a psuedo-empire stadium!

Forget the Lions...we want soccer specific and grass. Kerfoot has the vision.

[Former Champ]

I was honestly hoping the games wouldn't be spread out over the country. That would make it easy for everyone to see a game of 2, but very difficult for someone to see a majority of the games.

So Canada made it to the last 8 in the UAE... and early preditions on how we'll do?

[The Beaver]

quote:Originally posted by Current Champ

I was honestly hoping the games wouldn't be spread out over the country. That would make it easy for everyone to see a game of 2, but very difficult for someone to see a majority of the games.

So Canada made it to the last 8 in the UAE... and early preditions on how we'll do?

Contrary to what some Euro-nations will suggest, this is still a high-level tournament. The English do not take it seriously, but I think they should start giving it some thought. They will be left way in the dust if they do not concentrate more on youth development. Anyhow, all this to say that Canada will be in tough no matter what. Mitchell will have the lads ready, and considering we're hosting, I'm guessing the CSA and Feds will post some extra money for training and prep games etc. On paper, it seems the 2007 crew will be even more talented than the last group, though I wonder if there are any game-breakers like Hume on the squad. I'd love to see young DeGuzman suit up for us. That would be cool. (Or will he be too old by then).

[Ivan]

OK, I'll start. Potential lineup for 2007.

Begovic

Turnbull - Edgar - McLean - Kerek

Peters - MacLeod - deGuzman - Lensky

Lombardo - Johnson

Not bad. All but Turnbull in Europe.

[brodycheese]

Here's an interesting bit about de Guzman and Peters, apparently Peters has an offer to try out for the Man U team

FIFA championship coming to Canada

NEIL DAVIDSON

CANADIAN PRESS

Asmir Begovic, David Edgar, Jonathan de Guzman and Jaime Peters.

They are just some of the young Canadian soccer talent that hopefully will ignite passions across the country when Canada hosts the world under-20 championship in 2007.

All four are already making their mark.

Begovic, a highly touted goalkeeper from Edmonton, is playing in Portsmouth's youth system in England. Edgar, a central defender from Toronto who could be attending his third World Youth Championship in 2007, is signed with fellow Premier League side Newcastle and has already played for the Magpies' reserve side.

De Guzman, a Toronto midfielder whose older brother Julian is a member of Canada's World Cup side, is involved with Feyenoord in the Netherlands, while Peters, a midfielder from Pickering, Ont., was in German side Kaiserlautern's system last season. Peters, who played for Canada's B side recently against visiting Hearts and Millwall, has recently had tryouts with England's Ipswich and Derby, and also has an invitation from Manchester United.

Canadian under-20 coach Dale Mitchell will be looking closely at those and others born in 1987 or later as he prepares for the July 1, 2007, kickoff of the high-profile 24-team tournament.

The World Youth Championship is second only to the men's World Cup in terms of size and history, when it comes to FIFA competitions. It has showcased some of the best young talent in the game, from Diego Maradona to Michael Owen.

And it will shine the soccer spotlight on a country that has struggled to leave an impression internationally, at least on the men's side. As host, Canada has an automatic berth.

Canada has only qualified for six of the 14 under-20 championships held to date (with a career 4-13-4 record at the tournament), a well as just four of the 10 under-17 championships (finishing last every time, including 1987 as host).

Canadian soccer is sitting out the Athens Olympics and the national team — currently tied with Togo at No. 96 in the FIFA rankings — has only made the men's World Cup finals once in 1986.

The 2007 tournament will last three weeks and 52 matches. Some 14 or 15 of those games will take place in Toronto at a new $80-million outdoor stadium downtown on the grounds of the old Varsity Stadium.

The new stadium — the University of Toronto governing council still has to give its final approval — is slated to open in 2006, with the CFL's Toronto Argonauts and U of T major tenants. Soccer officials hope an MLS team may join them there some day.

The under-20 tournament will be held in "six major stadiums in at least four major regions across Canada," according to the Canadian Soccer Association.

Toronto, Edmonton, Montreal and Ottawa are virtual locks to host games.

Hamilton and Winnipeg are possible venues, with Vancouver also in the mix with Whitecaps owner Greg Kerfoot having talked of a new facility there. Calgary could also figure if the artificial turf at McMahon Stadium is replaced with a more soccer-friendly surface.

The tournament will open in Toronto, with Canada part of the opening game, and in all likelihood end at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium.

Securing the 2007 tournament was crucial to securing the $35 million in federal and provincial funding for the Toronto stadium ($27 million to $28 million from Ottawa and $7 million to $8 million from Ontario).

FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, a native of Trinidad and Tobago who is also chief of the CONCACAF confederation, made the official hosting announcement Tuesday at a news conference that featured as many politicians as soccer officials.

The only other country to bid for the championship was South Korea, whose presentation was based heavily on the stadiums built for the 2002 World Cup.

The budget for the 2007 tournament will be between $25 million and $30 million, with Canada providing $12 million and FIFA the rest.

Warner spoke glowingly of Canada, noting the success of the 2002 women's under-19 soccer championship on and off the field. He said he expected Canada to turn a profit on the 2007 championship, something that has not been done at any FIFA world championship with the exception of the men's World Cups and the inaugural women's under-19 tournament.

The hosting agreement specifies that the Canadian Soccer Association will make money if the organizers "optimally perform," according to Kevan Pipe, the CSA's chief operating officer.

Warner also noted that CONCACAF, which covers North and Central America and the Caribbean, had not hosted the World Youth Championships since 1983 in Mexico.

"It was our time now. More so it was Canada's time now."

Some may remember that Warner had a different view of Canadian soccer prior to a September 2002 World Cup qualifying game between Canada and his native Trinidad and Tobago.

In an interview with The Canadian Press in his Port-of-Spain office, an emotional Warner said Canada did not deserve to win the 2000 Gold Cup and that he would take "extreme pleasure" at seeing Canada lose to Trinidad and Tobago.

But time heals all wounds, apparently, and Warner was on his best behaviour Tuesday when he was showered with Canadian thanks.

Over its history, the under-20 tournament has averaged 15,476 fans per game. The 2003 edition, in the United Arab Emirates, drew a total of 592,100 spectators.

The Canadian team made history there, reaching the quarter-finals before losing to Spain 2-1 in extra time.

Canada also qualified in 1979 in Japan (when it finished 13th), 1985 in the Soviet Union (14th), 1987 in Chile (10th), 1997 in Malaysia (14th), 2001 in Argentina (24th) and 2003 in the United Arab Emirates (eighth).

"It's a huge tournament," said Paul James, who coached Canada at the 2001 edition in Argentina. "The level is terrific and most of the players on showcase are already signed, playing professional players."

Pipe says all efforts will be made to properly prepare the Canadian team for the 2007 tournament.

"Within reason . . . this team will be subject to the best preparation program that any team has ever had in the history of this association."

And, Pipe adds, the tournament will also serve as a head start for preparing Canada's bid to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

Canadian officials will travel to the Netherlands next year to observe the 2005 World Youth Championship.

"They'll put on a wonderful, wonderful championship," Pipe said. "We'll have big shoes to fill."

Notes: Canadian TV rights for the 2007 tournament are wide open at this stage, Pipe says. ... Canada travels to Honduras in January to try to qualify for the 2005 World Youth Championships. The Canadians are in a group with Honduras, Mexico and likely Jamaica or Haiti with the top two teams qualifying for the Dutch world tournament. Four more teams will go at it in the U.S., with another two moving on. Mitchell's side will likely include a number of players eligible for the 2007 tournament ... Mitchell is still working on convincing de Guzman to play for Canada. The young midfielder, apparently, is concentrating on succeeding at the club level.

[Gian-Luca]

Some snippets of info from all the tv coverage I've seen thus far (which, with the exception of CTV/TSN, has been pretty good - I was unable to find any mention of this huge news on the local CTV station or TSN, though I suppose it is possible they mentioned it briefly & I missed it)

1. On City TV Toronto Mayor David Miller mentioned that Toronto was to get about 30% of the matches

2. The Score mentioned the final was likely going to Edmonton as a thank you to their good work with the U19 tournament

3. Jack Warner mentioned on The Score that the only time a country has ever given money back to FIFA after hosting a soccer tourney was Canada in 2001 for the U19 Women's tourney, playing a role in the decision to award to Canada

4. The Score reporter expressed concern that attendances for the tournament would suffer if Canada had a crap team & got knocked out early. Andy Sharpe in response said the team will be well prepared & will have a lot of cash spent on it. Paul James said the team should be a good one, mentioning that most players on the team already play in Europe and singling out Jamie Peters and Jonathan De Guzman as two potential stars for Canada.

5. Kevan Pipe on Global indicated that this decision was a major turning point for Canadian soccer

6. Gerry Dobson on Sportsnet mentioned that there is actually one more i to be dotted - U of T's board of governers have to agree that the stadium being built is a good addition to their academic program. It didn't sound like anybody was too concerned that this wouldn't happen.

7.The Score's featured show Hume's goal against Spain while talking about Canada's run to the quarters last year, and suggested their performance last year helped in the decision (don't know how official that is as I've not seen it mentioned anywhere else).

Global supposed to have more coverage on Sportsline later tonight (11:30pm in Ontario for those who still have the mental energy to stay up that late).

[trueviking]

The Championship will take place in six major stadiums in at least four major regions across Canada

4 major regions...hamilton, toronto, kingston and ottawa.

[mattbin]

I'm very pleased that Davidson did not neglect to mention Warner's disgusting comments in the past. I still haven't forgiven that FIFA trougher and I'm glad someone in the media has a longer memory. Good on you, David.

In fact the only negative aspect of winning the 2007 U20s has been Warner's involvement. He hasn't changed a bit, he's just singing a different tune now that FIFA wants Canada. Trouble is, one never can tell what tune Jack's singing, what with his face being buried in the back of Sepp's trousers all the time.

Allez les Rouges,

M@

[bettermirror]

with all of this talk about the u20 world cup, of course canada's chances of falling on it's face competitive-wise, the argument has been cited that canada has a lot of youngsters are top european clubs, and all of these officials from the csa have been mentioning the younger de guzman.

has anyone else noticed this? sounds very positive. i think with his brother around, there's great chance he will play for us.

[jeffymac1971]

quote:Originally posted by WhitecapsFCFan

Forget the Lions...we want soccer specific and grass. Kerfoot has the vision.

Hate to Rain on your parade, but I think if B.C Place installs Fieldturf and if approved by FIFA then it will be a possible venue, I can't see more public money from B.C Taxpayer to build a soccer specfic stadia especially when most of the money will be spent on the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Perhaps the best best is to renovate B.C Place by removing the garbage bag, install fieldturf and a possible retractable roof. This is something that is going have to be viable for The Olympics, WYC 2007, The Lions and The Whitecaps

[jeffymac1971]

Let the speculation begin: Who Will Be The Six Cities to Host the 2007 WYC:

Well Edmonton and Toronto are the most obivious 2, How about the Next 4:

(1) Ottawa - Frank Clair Stadium, Fieldturf Surface Approved by FIFA

(2) Montreal - Molson Stadium, Fieldturf surface approved by FIFA

Both Ottawa and Montreal should also be shoe in which means Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Hamilton and possibly Quebec City or Halifax as the remaining possible Canadidate Cities.

Hamilton and Winnipeg do have Astroplay, which is similar to Fieldturf, however both stadiums and surfaces have yet to be approved by FIFA and both stadiums have pernament football lines and since Astroplay parent company SRI Sports declared backruptcy, do they have the technology to remove those lines?

Calgary - Has the crappy old Astroturf surface, however there is rumbling out of Calgary that there will be futher improvements to McMahon Stadium in the next couple of years and eventually will install Fieldturf, Momentum turf or any surface that will suit FIFA just fine.

Vancouver - B.C Place has the crappy astroturf as well and while Whitecaps owner Greg Kerfoot would love to have a 30,000 soccer specific stadia, He will have to find other sources of finincial contribution to build the stadium, but reality suggests that improvements to B.C Place is a necessity for the WYC in 2007 and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics which could mean an installation of Fieldturf and a retractable roof.

Quebec City and Halifax - Both Cities don't have a 20,000-30,000 stadium but could there be incentive by all 3 levels of governent and the private sector to build a stadia not only for soccer, football and University Sports. It could be an incentive to have all 4 regions of the country represented at the 2007 World Youth Cup.

[Daniel]

Don't count out a revamped CCR for Montréal. I'd say it's probably 35% but some people around the team have heard rumblings and there were CSA officials at CCR for the Impact-Whitecaps game.

The city, provincial government and Saputo have with the WYC the perfect "reason" (everyone loves an international event) to revamp CCR and turn it into a soccer-specific stadium. And seeing as the Als would stay at McGill, we're probably looking at natural grass. The people in charge should look into that as that would assure Montréal gets the bulk of National Team friendlies in the future (more revenue) and leaves a solid legacy for local soccer.

[mtlfan]

quote:Originally posted by Daniel

Don't count out a revamped CCR for Montréal. I'd say it's probably 35% but some people around the team have heard rumblings and there were CSA officials at CCR for the Impact-Whitecaps game.

The city, provincial government and Saputo have with the WYC the perfect "reason" (everyone loves an international event) to revamp CCR and turn it into a soccer-specific stadium. And seeing as the Als would stay at McGill, we're probably looking at natural grass. The people in charge should look into that as that would assure Montréal gets the bulk of National Team friendlies in the future (more revenue) and leaves a solid legacy for local soccer.

If something is going to happen in Montreal it won't be at McGill, the CSA has had enough complications attached to renting the stadium including the biggest drawback "THE LOGOS AND LINES ON THE TURF".

This should add incentive to the local soccer people to get CCR made over to a soccer specific stadium. The problem that must be solved is one: eliminate the track and two: if a natural surface is to be permanent then the maintenance of the surface must be subcontracted out to anyone but the employess of the Ville de Montreal.

Daniel may be right that Montreal grabs National Team matches away from Toronto for the following reason.

The fact that the Argos and U of T will decide on what surface will be installed after the 2007 event is very troubling.

The Agros will get advice from Larry Smith to make it a CFL Specific Stadium which means LOGOS AND LINES. This will help keep some potential soccer events out of the Toronto stadium which is what the CFL wants.

I'm going to lobby the Governments, to make sure they get 100% for their money by not allowing the Argos to make into a CFL Specific Stadium.

Four Regions will be:

Montreal/Ottawa as used for the CONCACAF U19 with CCR instead of McGill

Toronto/Hamilton

Vancouver

Edmonton

[An Observer]

I think that if Toronto can attract an MLS side, the turf/grass issue maybe solved. But we will see I guess

[jaydog2006]

If and that is a big if toronto does try to go for a mls team it won't be for 2007 more likely 2012 there are 6 citys a head of toronto.

[trueviking]

quote:

Hamilton and Winnipeg do have Astroplay, which is similar to Fieldturf, however both stadiums and surfaces have yet to be approved by FIFA and both stadiums have pernament football lines and since Astroplay parent company SRI Sports declared backruptcy, do they have the technology to remove those lines?

Winnipeg stadium will never be approved. i dont think it was ever a consideration...the lines are coloured plastic, woven right in...and the end zones are bright blue...it would be pretty hard to cover that up. the field also has a crown of what looks like 3 feet! the winnipeg soccer complex would be good for lesser games though...will grass fields still be approved for soccer by 2007?

[Free kick]

If Molson stadium is not in the cards as some alluded to, then one has to wonder about the kind of planning and focus that exists at the CSA these days. Did they not lobby to great lenghts ( less than a year ago) against the wishes of the Alouettes to ensure that the newly installed turf at Molson stadium would accomodate soccer? What was the point of the efforts then if they are just constantly changing prioities and focus? It would seem to me that location-wise, CCR is the best for the Impact but for international soccer, I would much rather see the downtown location of McGill stadium.

Also, In fairness to other sports, CCR is very much a multipurpose facility ( a valuable former olympic assets in the wake of the other white elephants). From what I perceive, the track facilities are of world calibre. Why gut one sport facility for the benfit of another? Gutting track and field possibilities at CCR means one less facility where high calibre track events can be held in canada.

[Daniel]

The track can always be moved to an adjacent field where 8,000 seats aren't necessary.

What happened with the McGill turf was that it was supposed to be blank and that's what the CSA was pushing for. However, the Als and McGill decided that the lines would be permanent with the option of painting over them. The CSA LOST its battle for an adequate surface at McGill.

[QuebecToon]

I'm with Daniel on this.

Forget McGill stadium. It might be downtown, but it's not really. I mean the Bell Center is as it is easily accesible, there's plenty of easy parking and near commuter trains.

McGill Stadium on the other hand... well let's say you better be in shape to get to it walking from downtown as it's a steep hill (I walk it on lunch hour to get in shape. Real good cardio)

CCR is great as there is parking if you get there early (meaning tailgate if you can organize it) and it's fairly accessible as it borders a rapid road.

With a little effort for the city and the goverment (meaning they'll agree somewhere in 2025 on the split and who gets the pub) CCR could be a very nice stadium.

A) out goes the track

move the field toward the grand stand

C) Improve capacity of the grand stand if possible

C) Build a real stand on the other side with the place gained by moving the field

D) Build general admission stands behind the goals which would be perfect for the Voyageurs with possible temporary capacity improvment.

This would give a 15,000 seats stadium perfect for the Impact. This might be small for the WYC, but better small and full than enormous and empty.

[François]

I'm with Daniel and Q-toon on this.

Let's get a new CCR!!!

[Jarrek]

quote:If Molson stadium is not in the cards as some alluded to, then one has to wonder about the kind of planning and focus that exists at the CSA these days. Did they not lobby to great lenghts ( less than a year ago) against the wishes of the Alouettes to ensure that the newly installed turf at Molson stadium would accomodate soccer? What was the point of the efforts then if they are just constantly changing prioities and focus? It would seem to me that location-wise, CCR is the best for the Impact but for international soccer, I would much rather see the downtown location of McGill stadium.

I just hope the same kind of scenario does not occur in Toronto.

[Andrew W]

quote:Originally posted by jaydog2006

If and that is a big if toronto does try to go for a mls team it won't be for 2007 more likely 2012 there are 6 citys a head of toronto.

But none of those six, at this point, have confirmed ownership groups. You have a stadium (or plan) and an ownership group with cheque in hand, you're golden. That's how Salt Lake pipped Seattle.

[Andrew W]

On another note, does anyone remember where the other $45 million for this stadium is coming from? I can't for the life of me remember who is underwriting the rest of the project.