FIFA has announced Canada will host the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, a week after the country's only competitor -- Zimbabwe -- dropped its bid for the games.
In a Thursday announcement in Switzerland, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Canada will host the 2015 women's tournament as well as the 2014 women's under-20 championship, which is viewed as a test-run.
Upon receiving the news, Canada's minister of state for sport said the government is thrilled Canada will host the 16-team tournament.
"Our government is a very, very strong supporter of this bid," Gary Lunn said Thursday morning. "The Women's World Cup in soccer… is the single-largest women's sporting event in the world. To have this awarded to Canada is an incredible offer. It will be played in every region and every corner of Canada."
FIFA inspectors will begin examining venues in the cities involved -- Vancouver, Montreal, Halifax, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Moncton – this fall.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper says the event will contribute to a positive worldwide perception of Canadian athletes.
"Hosting these tournaments will further enhance Canada's reputation as a sporting country and allow us to showcase several cities to a global television audience," he said in a release issued Thursday.
"We have an exceptional national women's soccer program and it will be exciting to see our team compete here, before enthusiastic Canadian fans," said Prime Minister Stephen Harper in a release.
It won't be Canada's first time hosting such large-scale tournaments. The country hosted the Men's under-20 event in 2007 and the women's under-19 tournament in 2002.
Canada had sought to host the 2011 women's tournament but lost the bid to Germany.
The next FIFA World Cup for male athletes will be held in Brazil in 2014.
With files from The Canadian Press
