Women’s World Cup: Canada Factfile

The FIFA Women’s World Cup is coming to Canada this summer, where Japan will try to defend their title. The tournament is set to be the biggest in history, with an increase in playing teams from 16 to 24, all vying to lift the trophy in Vancouver on 5 July.

Canada is no stranger to women’s football. The national women’s team has already played in five FIFA Women’s World Cups and two Women’s Olympic football tournaments.

Here are some other interesting facts that you may not know about the country, its football and the host cities from Jaideep Vaidya:

1876: First recorded football match – Carlton Cricket Club vs. Lacrosse Club, Toronto
1912: Canadian Soccer Association founded and affiliated to FIFA
1957: Canada (men) played the FIFA World Cup qualifying tournament for Sweden ’58. Failed to qualify
1985: Canadian men’s team became CONCACAF champions
1986: Canada (men) played first FIFA World Cup in Mexico
1986: Canada women’s team played their first international match, lost to USA 2-0 at Blaine
1987: Canada hosted FIFA U17 World Cup
1995: Canada women participated in their first FIFA Women’s World Cup; did not get past group stage
1998: Canada women became CONCACAF champions
2002: Canada hosted the first FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup
2003: Canada women finished fourth in FIFA Women’s World Cup
2007: Canada hosted the FIFA U20 World Cup (men’s) – largest single-sport event to take place in the country with almost 1.2 million spectators
2008: Canada women won first of three Cyprus Cups
2010: Canada women won their second CONCACAF title
2012: Canada women took the Bronze medal at the London Olympics
2015: Canada will host its first Women’s World Cup

DID YOU KNOW?! Canada has more lakes than the rest of the world combined…

Football Facts

Biggest win: Canada 21-0 Puerto Rico (1998)

Biggest defeat(s): US 9-1 Canada (1995)
US 9-1 Canada (2000)
Norway 9-1 Canada (2001)

Most capped player: Christine Sinclair (222)

Most goals: Christine Sinclair (153)

FIFA ranking: 8th

Highest FIFA ranking: 6th (2011)

The Host Cities

Edmonton:

Known as Canada’s Festival City, Edmonton, the capital of the Alberta province, is one of the country’s fastest growing cities. It is home to North America’s largest parkland – the North Saskatchewan River Valley, which is 22 times the size of New York’s Central Park; North America’s largest entertainment and shopping centre until 2004 – the West Edmonton Mall; and Canada’s largest living history museum – Fort Edmonton Park.

Edmonton has hosted a number of sporting events in the past, including the 1978 Commonwealth Games, the 2006 Women’s Rugby World Cup, and the 2007 and 2014 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup.

Montreal:

Montreal is the second-largest French-speaking city in the world after Paris and the largest city in the Quebec province. A cultural and business hub, Montreal offers the best of classical old-world charm and a bustling modern metropolis. It also has an underground city – a network of subterranean inter-connected passageways stretching more than 30 kilometres.

The city has over 300 football (or soccer, as they call it) pitches, including 30 artificial ones. Montreal Impact, who play in Major League Soccer, had a record crowd of nearly 59,000 cheer them on for their opening MLS game at the Olympic Stadium.

Vancouver:

Vancouver is a vibrant and international city in the district of British Columbia. Known for great shopping and nightlife, Vancouver’s location in the Burrard Peninsula and along the Fraser River also offers opportunities for outdoor activities such as kayaking, hiking, biking and rock climbing.

Tourism is the city’s second-largest industry behind forestry and it is also one of the largest centres for film production in North America, earning it the
moniker ‘Hollywood North’.

Having hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics, the city has experience in hosting a major sporting event. It is home to the Vancouver Whitecaps MLS team.

DID YOU KNOW?! In Northwest Canada, License Plates are in the shape of a Polar Bear…

Moncton:

Located at the geographic centre of the Canadian Maritimes, Moncton has smartened up significantly over the past few decades. The hub city is Canada’s first officially bilingual city (English and French). With great nightlife and plenty to keep you amused, the welcoming Moncton was voted the most polite and honest city in North America by Reader’s Digest.

Moncton is a centre for entertainment, having hosted record-breaking tours of U2, AC/DC, the Rolling Stones and the Eagles.

Ottawa:

The Canadian capital is a must-visit city on any tour of the country. An historical centre, it is home to Parliament, the Supreme Court, the Canadian Museum of History, the National Gallery of Canada and the National Arts Centre.

Women’s soccer is thriving in the city thanks to Ottawa Fury FC, who boast a phenomenal streak of eight consecutive division titles and a Championship Final win in 2012. The team has provided the national side with several players, including Diana Matheson, Rhian Wilkinson and Robyn Gayle.

Winnipeg:

Called the cultural cradle of Canada, Winnipeg lies bang in the centre of North America in Canada’s Manitoba province. It is a centre for finance, manufacturing and wholesale – a vital cog in Manitoba’s economy. It is a diverse city with lots to offer from the arts, sports and entertainment industries.

Winnipeg is no stranger to football, having hosted a number of international tournaments such as FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, men and women’s national team exhibition matches and the Pan American Games.