Women's World Cup 2015

[The Ref]

According to this story FIFA has decided that the 2015 WC will have 24 teams. That is 8 more countries from the current 16. The 2011 in Germany will be the last with only 16 teams. Will Concacaf get any more places?

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2009/12/03/sp-soccer-fifa-u23.html

Chile seems to be definitely planning submitting a bid to host the 2015 cup. They were recently awarded the Copa America.

[Vic]

1991 - AFC (China)

1995 - UEFA (Sweden)

1999 - CONCACAF (USA)

2003 - CONCACAF (USA) * last-minute China bail due to SARS

2007 - AFC (China)

2011 - UEFA (Germany)

When it comes to hosting there is logic and there is attendance (and the prestige and economics that go with it). And that becomes even more important now that it's a double host because whoever hosts the Women's World Cup hosts the Women's U20 the prior year as part of the arrangement.

Canada applied to host last cycle and after two in the USA our odds would be quite good. But when you look at who has hosted it seems more likely the next one will go to CONMEBOL with a reasonable bid. They also went 16 years between AFC and UEFA hosting, so it would seem to reason that CONCACAF will be 2019.

But that's where the logic ends. CAF or OFC could well put in a bid under the pretense of their turn as well, but they are not likely to get it because of size and economics.

Canada's advantage over Chile is last years's Chilean U20 hosting had an average attendance of 6,750. Canada averaged 11,350 in 2002 (throw out Centennial in Victoria who pulled in only 3,000 per game and it's considerably higher). Edmonton where Canada was camped averaged almost 30,000 per Canada game and almost 10,000 for non-Canadian games). In 2002 there were three host cities - Edmonton (18,500 avg), Vancouver (5,200 avg) and Victoria (2,900 avg). And with 24 teams there would be groups in the GTA and Montreal which would drive the numbers up enormously.

I'm also doubtful of the Chilean 6,750 figure. The official game photos purposely do not show the empty stadiums, and when you do get action shots and look at the lower rows they are often completely empty. I can see semi-final shots of a game between the best countries in the world (USA/Germany) and shots of the bronze medal game that show the same thing.

Another further complication would be the Americans outdraw us at the gate, so if they apply with a serious bid that is the same logic working in our favour working against us.

[Vic]

Not even Christmas and ticket demand for Germany 2011 has already outstripped supply.