World Cup Archive

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Pedersen’s name not on list of 40 “potential candidates” for 2015 WWC ref assignments

By
Steven Sandor
– 05/15/2013

The 40 candidates pose with FIFA president Sepp Blatter. PHOTO: FOTONET

The 40 candidates pose with FIFA president Sepp Blatter. PHOTO: FOTONET

On Wednesday, FIFA released the names of 40 referees who are “potential candidates” for inclusion in the 2015 Women’s World Cup.

Canadian referee Carol Anne Chenard’s name is on the list. Norwegian official Christina Pedersen’s name is not.

The 40 officials are in Zurich this week, attending medicals and a seminar that begin the planning stages for the Women’s World Cup, which opens in Edmonton and closes with the final game at Vancouver’s B.C. Place.

“This is an incredibly important seminar,” Sonia Denoncourt, Head of Women’s Referees at FIFA, was quoted in a release. “It is the first real step towards choosing candidates for the Women’s World Cup 2015 in Canada. The event is two-and-a-half years away and we are starting off with a large group of female referees. We’ll be testing them and then selecting the best at the end.”
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Canada prepares the “building blocks” for World Cup 2026

By
Steven Sandor
– 03/24/2013

fifa-logoA couple of days ago, Canadian Soccer Association General Secretary Peter Montopoli was at Edmonton’s City Hall and was asked about a possible bid for the 2026 World Cup.

Montopoli described the hosting of the 2014 U-20 Women’s World Cup and the 2015 Women’s World Cup as “building blocks” towards a bid for 2026; and, he noted that, in July of 2015, Canada can boast that it’s hosted all the major tournaments except for the biggest one of them all.

Montopoli was in Edmonton for the announcement of the city as the host of the opening ceremonies and first game of the 2015 Women’s World Cup, so he was right to feel bullish.

There’s no doubt that there is a section of FIFA voters who are enamoured with Canada; despite the fact we don’t have the on-field profile of CONCACAF neighbours Mexico and the United States, we offer stability and certainty, without the American bluster that seems to turn so many international voters off (see: IOC vote and Chicago, 2014 Olympics, U.S. World Cup bid, 2022).
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Edmonton and Vancouver the big winners out of Women’s World Cup announcement

By
Steven Sandor
– 03/21/2013
IMG_1064

(L-R) Richard Starke, Stephen Mandel, Peter Montopoli and John Herdman at Edmonton’s City Hall., Thursday.

In 2002, Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium welcomed more than 45,000 fans for the final of the then-named FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship. It still stands as the high-water mark for attendance at a women’s youth match.

Eleven years later, and that achievement still resonates with FIFA. On Thursday, the Organizing Committee for the 2015 Women’s World Cup announced that Commonwealth would host the June 6 opening ceremonies and Canada’s first two group-stage matches. Canada’s third Group A match would be played in Montreal.

The final is set for BC Place in Vancouver. If Canada finishes first in Group A, it will advance to a round of 16 match in Vancouver. If it advances, the quarterfinal will go in Vancouver. If Canada wins that match, it advances to a Canada Day semifinal at Commonwealth and, hopefully, the final, July 5 at B.C. Place.

The third-place game is set for Edmonton. The Alberta capital will host more matches (11) than any other host city.
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Celebrating Inside Soccer’s 100th issue with the Canadian men’s national team

By
Steven Sandor
– 03/04/2013

Dale Mitchell, second from left, is mobbed by teammates after scoring a goal at the 1984 Olympics.

Dale Mitchell, second from left, is mobbed by teammates after scoring a goal at the 1984 Olympics.

The 100th issue of Inside Soccer is now available across Canada and, as has been the case over the last couple of years, I am glad to be a contributor to the magazine. Inside Soccer does a wonderful job of promoting the game across the country, and allowing avenues for soccer stories that don’t appear in other magazines.

As part of the 100th-issue celebration, I was tasked to find current and former members of the Canadian men’s national team, and to simply ask them to talk about their favourite moments in international football. Our article features Dwayne De Rosario, Terry Dunfield, Patrice Bernier, Paul Dolan, Nick De Santis, Bob Lenarduzzi and Greg Sutton.

As well, as part of the process, I got some tidbits from Carl Valentine, Dale Mitchell and Martin Nash. We have presented them here as a preview of the piece that you’ll find in the pages of the 100th issue Inside Soccer.
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Toronto confirmed for rematch with USA, as time runs out to get pre-WWC friendlies into host cities

By
Steven Sandor
– 02/19/2013

Peter Montopoli, in Edmonton in 2011.

The Canadian Soccer Association is running out of time.

In 2011, CSA General Secretary Peter Montopoli told media gathered in Edmonton for a FIFA Women’s World Cup site inspection that a number of women’s team friendlies would be booked for the host cities. “We’d like to take advantage offered to us and take on top competition,” he said. “We’d play in the stadiums at the different host cities.”

It made sense: The friendlies would help the cities prepare for the U-20 Women’s World Cup in 2014 and the big tournament in 2015.

Fast forward to today’s announcement, that the Canadian women’s team will hold its hotly anticipated rematch with the United States June 2 at Toronto’s BMO Field. Since the CSA organized a press conference in Toronto for this announcement — the venue is not a surprise. And, having the women play in Canada’s largest media market makes some dollars and cents; the Blue Jays don’t play till 10 p.m. that night (in San Diego) and Toronto FC plays the day before.

But, there’s also a real need to look at the prep for the Women’s World Cup. As Toronto isn’t a host city, this game against the Americans isn’t fulfilling a promise that the CSA has made to Canadians. Read the rest of this entry »

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Women’s World Cup 2015 logo unveiled

By
Steven Sandor
– 12/14/2012

Christine Sinclair walked onto the field at BC Place, cheered on by her national-teammates and minor girls’ soccer players from across Metro Vancouver.

She placed the ball on the point white maple leaf placed on the BC Place turf, then shot the ball into an open goal. Fireworks ensued, and the logo for the 2015 Women’s World Cup was unveiled.

It was the highlight of Friday’s short-and-sweet ceremony which saw the Canadian Soccer Association lift the curtain on the logo. And it gave Sinclair yet another chance to shine in the Canadian spotlight.

Five other composite emblems were launched in the other host cities: Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal and Moncton.
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Women’s World Cup: Edmonton debates Commonwealth funding

By
Steven Sandor
– 11/01/2012

Edmonton City Council debated a proposed $10.7 million upgrade to Commonwealth Stadium for the Women’s World Cup — but did not vote on allocating money towards the project.

There were more questions than answers at the council meeting. Councillors wanted to know why the new $10.7 million plan was presented to them as one large package, rather than portioned into “need to have” and “nice to have” components. They wanted to know what FIFA requires of World Cup hosts.

And they were told the only necessary item was a $1.5 million upgrade to provide the four dressing rooms and doping control facilities as required by FIFA. The new plan would see the CFL visitors dressing room converted into two dressing rooms and additional rooms to be found in the facility’s existing space.

The dressing room for the CFL Eskimos was not part of the proposal, and Mayor Stephen Mandel told reporters that he wants to know why it can’t be used. If the Eskimos simply don’t want to share, he said he “has no sympathy” for that position. “Do they have a game that night?” he said in a scrum with reporters.
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Edmonton city council to look at new WWC Commonwealth renovation proposal

By
Steven Sandor
– 10/30/2012

A new fourth way for the renovation of Commonwealth Stadium ahead of the U-20 Women’s World Cup and the Women’s World Cup will be debated by Edmonton City Council on Halloween.

A new proposal brought forth by administration can be found in the agenda for Wednesday’s meeting.

“Administration is now pursuing an option of repurposing existing space within Commonwealth Stadium. Improvements would be made to the Canadian Football League visitors’ locker room to provide two of the four required change rooms. Other spaces currently used for staff offices and game day operations would be repurposed to create two new change rooms. The displaced functions will be accommodated elsewhere within the existing building. The very preliminary cost of repurposing these spaces estimated to be in the range of $1.5 million.”

On Oct. 9, an Edmonton committee, which included Mayor Stephen Mandel, discussed three proposals, ranging in costs from $12-$35 million.
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CSA to stay mum as Edmonton debates Commonwealth WWC plan

By
Steven Sandor
– 10/26/2012

CSA President Victor Montagliani: Won’t be in Edmonton for Commonwealth debate.

The Canadian Soccer Association looks to be taking a wait-and-see track as Edmonton City Council prepares to debate how it will improve Commonwealth Stadium ahead of the Women’s World Cup.

City Council is scheduled to debate three proposed Commonwealth Stadium renovation plans on Oct. 31. But the Canadian Soccer Association has confirmed to the The 11 that it won’t be sending representation to Edmonton for the meeting.

“No one from the Association will be attending the meeting,” read a statement from the CSA. “Note that we will not be commenting on this either at this point in time.”
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Why the CSA should look to Mexico for the next national-team coach

By
Steven Sandor
– 10/20/2012

Javier Aguirre… Should the CSA give him a call?

Today was a day of goodbyes for the Canadian national team.

A day after he announced his resignation, former coach Stephen Hart spoke with the media in a Friday conference call, basically saying that there was no way back after Tuesday’s 8-1 loss to Honduras, which ended the World Cup campaign with a national-team implosion.

And, midfielder Patrice Bernier announced that he is retiring from international soccer. The Montreal Impact midfielder will spend the rest of his thirtysomething years focused on his club career.

Bernier, who wasn’t used in Tuesday’s 8-1 loss to Honduras — the game which ended Canada’s World Cup qualifying hopes — is likely to be the first of many.

Truth is, this was, in soccer terms, a very experienced team. Some might even use the term, “old.” And many tough choices lay ahead.
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