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SPORTS Thursday 28 February 2019
Women's World Cup countdown begins in earnest

By ANNE M. PETERSON
AP Sports Writer
The Women's World Cup
countdown has begun in
earnest.
Wednesday marked 100
days until the kickoff of the
game's biggest tourna-
ment, opening on June 7
in Paris. The 24-team event
will be played at nine sta-
diums in France over the
course of a month, with the
final set for July 7 in Lyon.
The United States is the de-
fending champion, having
won the 2015 World Cup in
Canada. The top-ranked
Americans are also the pre-
sumptive favorites this time
around.
So far, ticket sales have
been strong, with more
than 500,000 of an allot-
ment of 1.3 million sold fol-
lowing the ticket package
launch and the presale
phase, FIFA announced
Wednesday. Single-match
tickets go on sale March 7.
"I'm convinced that after
this World Cup the way
women's soccer is viewed FIFA President Gianni Infantino holds the official ball of the upcoming Women's Soccer World Championship as he poses for photog-
in the world will change," raphers during a press conference at the end of an executive committee meeting in Rome, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019.
FIFA President Gianni Infan- Associated Press
tino said at a news confer-
ence in Rome on Wednes- like a sweeter prize pool. Matildas since 2014 and still There's also the annual world, are also expected to
day. "We expect 1 billion TV Another issue is timing. had nine months left on his Algarve Cup in Portugal, play a friendly against Pan-
viewers and 1.3 million fans FIFA has been criticized for contract. which starts Thursday and ama as the team prepares
in the stadiums. They have scheduling the Women's The Australian federation features Canada, Sweden, for the World Cup.
already sold more than World Cup final on the said it fired Stajcic follow- Spain and several other FOCUS: U.S. goalkeeper
half of the tickets. Women's same day as the men's ing an internal review and teams. Alyssa Naeher was on the
soccer has made a huge Copa America final and Ante Milicic was named Australia is hosting the inau- champion 2015 squad, al-
progression. The players are the CONCACAF Gold Cup to take over through the gural Cup of Nations, which beit as a backup to goal-
real athletes who play well final. Here are some other World Cup. will also include New Zea- keeper Hope Solo. Now the
technically and tactically. things to watch in the 100 Milicic is not the only one land, Argentina and South presumed starter in France,
They could give a lot of us days leading up to the jumping aboard a team so Korea, starting Thursday. Naeher is tempering her ex-
some lessons." World Cup. late in the process. Cam- "We've got eight games citement and focusing on
There are a few linger- VIDEO WATCH: The next eroon coach Joseph Ndo- left," U.S. coach Jill Ellis said the work to be done.
ing controversies hanging Women's World Cup mile- ko was replaced by Alain Tuesday about the remain- "I mean, yes, it's exciting
over the event, including stone for FIFA is confirming Djeumfa in January. Known ing schedule. "Every minute to start a countdown like
prize money. Last October, the use of video review. as the Lionesses, Cam- we can get the players to- that (the 100 days) and it
the FIFA Council raised the The prospect of VAR in eroon advanced to the gether to forge those rela- kind of builds the excite-
prize money from $15 mil- France looked in doubt as knockout round in Canada tionships is really important." ment around the whole
lion in 2015 to $30 million FIFA prevaricated when but the team has struggled But there's far more ur- event. But for me it's kind of
in France. By contrast, the asked if women's play- recently with preparation gency for teams that nor- staying focused in the mo-
prize pool for the men's ers would benefit from the for France. The move was mally don't have many ment," Naeher said.
World Cup in Russia last same technology that de- somewhat of a surprise be- regular exhibition games. HEGERBERG OUT: Norway
year was $400 million. buted at the men's World cause Ndoko had guided Chile and Jamaica, who coach Martin Sjogren told
In 2015, the U.S. women re- Cup in Russia last year. the team to a third-place will each make their World the BBC that there is no
ceived $2 million for raising But FIFA confirmed its finish at the Women' Africa Cup debut in France, will chance that Ballon d'Or
the trophy, and the win- Women's World Cup refer- Cup of Nations late last play a pair of matches in winner Ada Hegerberg
ner this summer will earn ees were training with VAR year, qualifying Cameroon Jamaica, with the first on will play in the World Cup.
$4 million. The French men, earlier this month. The FIFA for the World Cup. Thursday in Kingston. Hegerberg, who stepped
who won their World Cup, Council has to ratify the use TUNING UP: The 100-day "Chile have played Brazil away from the national
earned $38 million. of VAR at a meeting in Mi- mark also means teams are and Italy recently, therefore team, has taken a stand
While the men's World Cup ami next month. going all-in on preparation we'll get an opportunity to against what she said was
generates far more reve- LAST-MINUTE CHANGES: for the event. The United measure where we are as a lack of respect for female
nue, critics say FIFA should Australia shocked many States is hosting the She- a team," Jamaica coach players in Norway. Sjogren
back up its pledges to grow with January's dismissal of Believes Cup with Japan, Hue Menzies told report- said discussions were held,
the women's game with in- coach Alen Stajcic, who England and Brazil — all ers last week. The Reggae but ultimately Hegerberg
vestment and incentives — had been coach of the World Cup-bound teams. Girls, ranked No. 53 in the decided not to play.q