FIFA has announced the schedule for the Women’s World Cup and Moncton will be hosting seven games during the summer of 2015.
Even though Team Canada will not make an appearance, soccer officials are confident that at least one of the world’s top teams will play in the Hub City.
Younes Bouida, director of technical development for Soccer New Brunswick, says his phone has been ringing off the hook since Moncton was chosen as a host city for the event.
“Everybody wants to know where Canada is going to play. What team is going to be coming to Moncton to play? How many games are we going to have? Everybody is excited about that.”
Unfortunately, Team Canada will not be playing in the Maritimes, but Moncton is still ready to host the world.
“We want to give them a good welcome and you can bet for sure that the City of Moncton is actively planning festival activities to make sure that the hype is there,” city spokesperson Jillian Cormier.
Local fans are just happy to see world class soccer.
“It would be a better thing if they could play, unfortunately we can’t always have what we want,” says soccer fan Patrick Dugas. “I’m sure there will be some great soccer games.”
Bouida agrees, and says that holding such an event will benefit many future athletes in the sport.
“The opportunity to have the World Cup here will have an impact in the mid-term and long-term and will inspire a new generation of soccer players,” says Bouida.
Which teams will be playing in Moncton is still to be determined, but Bouida says at least one big team will be on the pitch at Moncton stadium.
Tickets will go on sale in the fall of 2014.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Martin Poirier
