WYC 2007: Calgary and Winnipeg Withdraw Their Bid to Host

Ottawa, Ontario – The Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) today announced that Calgary and Winnipeg have withdrawn their intent to bid to host venues at the FIFA World Youth Championship Canada 2007.

Edmonton and Toronto have already been pre-determined as the two major venues, leaving four venues to be announced on Wednesday, May 4, 2005.

In January, the CSA received 11 letters of intent, from 11 cities across Canada, to bid to co-host the 2007 FIFA World Youth Championship.

The remaining nine cities who have submitted letters of intent to host one of the four remaining venues are Hamilton, Laval, London, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Sherbrooke, Vancouver, and Victoria.

“The Alberta Soccer Association is disappointed that the Calgary bid will not move forward at this point and time, however looks forward to working closely with the Canadian Soccer Association and key stake holders in the City of Calgary to bring international soccer to their city,” said Vern Gerhardt, Executive Director of the Alberta Soccer Association.

“The Manitoba Soccer Association is disappointed in having to withdraw from the bidding process. We wish all of the remaining cities all the very best in securing a site for the FIFA World Youth Championship 2007. It will be a tremendous event,” indicated Héctor O. Vergara, MSA Chief Administrative Officer.

FIFA World Youth Championship Canada 2007

In August, Canada was awarded the FIFA World Youth Championship 2007. A total of six cities will co-host the Championship, including Edmonton and Toronto, as well as four additional cities to be selected on May 4, 2005.

The FIFA World Youth Championship Canada 2007 is a three-week long, 24-nation, and 52-match tournament featuring the best U-20 players in the world. It is the second largest event staged by FIFA after the FIFA World Cup, including such graduates as: Maradona, Saviola, Luis Figo, Rui Costa, Bebeto, and Dunga, as well as Canada’s Craig Forrest and several members of the current Men’s World Cup Team including: Julian de Guzman, Paul Stalteri, Atiba Hutchinson and Iain Hume.

Last held in the CONCACAF (The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) region of Mexico in 1983, Canada’s most recent participation in this event occurred in December 2003, when the squad had its best-ever finish, losing to eventual silver medalist Spain.

Canada recently qualified for this year’s FIFA World Youth Championship Netherlands 2005 after dominating their group at CONCACAF qualifying with wins over Mexico, Honduras and Jamaica; extending their CONCACAF qualifying unbeaten streak to nine games.

The Championship will take place in six major stadiums across Canada, with the dates for the tournament being July 1-22, 2007.

Please visit FIFA.com for more information on the FIFA World Youth Championship.