Under-20 a test run for Women’s World Cup

Edmonton is one of four Canadian host cities for this summer’s FIFA’s U-20 Women’s World Cup soccer championship. But the bigger carrot is the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which sees Edmonton as one of six host Canadian cities for what is the world governing body’s second-biggest property — behind only the men’s World Cup.

This summer’s U-20 World Cup runs Aug. 5-24 with seven matches, including a quarter-final match, destined for Edmonton.

The Women’s World Cup runs June 6-July 5, 2015.

Trisa Zimmerman, venue general manager for the Women’s World Cup, said while organizers are anticipating 320,000 people to watch 32 U-20 matches in Edmonton, Toronto, Montreal and Moncton, the goal is total attendance of 1.5 million for next year’s World Cup.

“That’s a very realistic number,” said Zimmerman, citing that close to 50,000 people attended the 2002 U-20 World Cup final between Canada and the U.S. in Edmonton. For the Women’s World Cup, 52 matches will be played from coast-to-coast in Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal and Moncton.

“Hosting the U-20 Women’s World Cup is a chance to test all of our concepts and planning and make sure they all work in 2015,” said Zimmerman. “Hosting 2014 is also a great chance to engage fans and create momentum that 2015 is coming up the following June.”

Venue pack tickets for the U-20 Women’s WorldC upare available online at www.fifa. com/Canada2014.

Zimmerman said groups and soccer clubs that purchase tickets for all seven games will get on a priority list to purchase value packs for the 2015 Women’s World Cup.