OTTAWA (ONTARIO) – Canada’s women’s national team will face China in a two-game international friendly series in early May. Canada will face China on 3 May and 6 May in Hangzou, China, their first matches in China in three years. This two-game series will give Canada a chance to visit the host country for the FIFA Women’s World Cup China 2007.

"We are very fortunate to have this opportunity to visit the World Cup host country,” says Canadian national coach Even Pellerud. “It is important for us to identify travel issues, pollution issues, food issues, maybe even heat issues - all the small differences that are expected to become critical factors when we move into September (for the World Cup).

“We are going into this May series with a full player roster as well as a full staff. This has been made possible thanks to great contributions from the Canadian Olympic Committee and Sport Canada. We are very fortunate to have this tremendous support.”

Canada last faced China in the fall in a two-game series in St. John’s, NL. The teams drew 0:0 on 19 August and 1:1 on 22 August. In 14 all-time matches between the Canadian and Chinese senior women’s teams since 1990, Canada has won two matches, China has won 10 matches, and the teams have drawn twice. Canada first beat China on 8 June 2000 in the Pacific Cup in Newcastle, Australia on penalty kicks. Canada then beat China for a second time at the FIFA Women’s World Cup USA 2003 in Portland, OR (1:0).

In the March 2007 FIFA World Rankings, Canada was the 10th-ranked team in the world (second in CONCACAF behind the top-ranked United States). China, meanwhile, was the 11th-ranked team in the world. Along with Canada’s 3 May and 6 May international friendly matches against China, they will play the United States on 12 May in an international friendly in Frisco, TX. In 17 matches in 2006, Canada posted 10 wins, four draws (two of which were against China) and three losses (all against the United States).

From January to March 2007, Canada’s women’s national team ran a seven-week training stage at their residency camp in Vancouver, BC. They are currently in the midst of a second, two-week stage which runs through this Thursday before the Easter break.

“The health and fitness situation of our team keeps on progressing,” says Pellerud. “We expect all players to travel with us and be available for playing time.”

Canada is currently on the road to the FIFA Women’s World Cup China 2007. The tournament takes place 10-30 September in Wuhan, Chengdu, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Tianjin. The Official Draw for the FIFA Women’s World Cup China 2007 is 22 April.