VANCOUVER: The next Women’s World Cup will make history for FIFA as the first of its major trophy events whose final will be played on artificial turf.

Canadian organisers have confirmed 50,000-capacityVancouver’s BC Place stadium for the decider on July 5, 2015. Edmonton, Alberta, will stage the opening game on June 6 and a semi-final, along with Montreal.

Games also will be played in Winnipeg,M anitoba; Ottawa;  and Moncton, New Brunswick.

Steve Reed, a national organising committee member, said: “There are a lot of factors. For the final match we wanted to maximise the number of people in the seats. BC. Place obviously has that capacity.”

FIFA has reinstated Costa Rica as the host nation for the 2014 Under-17 Women’s World Cup.

Last month FIFA stated that the tournament would have to be relocated due to “a number of unforeseen circumstances leading to heavy stadium construction delays”.

However, world football’s governing body has now elected to change its decision following a new series of pledges made by the Costa Rican government and confirmed by a report from the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF).

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