Canada heads to China in anticipation of FIFA Women’s World Cup Draw

OTTAWA (ONTARIO) – Canada’s Andrea Neil will travel to Wuhan, China this week to take part in the 21 April World Stars match and represent her country at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Official Draw on 22 April. Neil will travel to Wuhan with national team manager Les Meszaros as Canada will find out exactly which countries it will face in the opening round of the FIFA Women’s World Cup China 2007.



The World Stars match will pit some of the best players from around the world against the host Chinese team. The Saturday match is part of the weekend festivities previewing this fall’s FIFA Women’s World Cup China 2007 which takes place 10-30 September in five cities including Wuhan.



“What an absolute honour to be present in Wuhan, China for the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup Draw,” said Andrea Neil. “Any time a player wears a Canadian jersey in representing our country it is a proud moment, but there is something extra special about competing at the World Cup. The success of the team in 2003 was a special journey that many won’t soon forget. The 2007 edition of the Women’s World Cup team is in the midst of our preparations for September. I can honestly say that I have never been prouder to call this talented and motivated network of players and staff my team.”



The Official Draw starts at 18:45 local time or 6:45 EST (3:45 Pacific). The 16 qualified countries will be separated into four groups at the Official Draw. Countries will have to finish first or second in their group at the tournament to advance to the quarter final.



“A FIFA World Cup Draw is always a tense moment in a coach’s life,” says coach Even Pellerud. “This will be my fourth FIFA World Cup draw and I still can’t get used to it. All coaches and their teams know that a FIFA World Cup competition success often depends on momentum, a good or bad start, and factors that you cannot control as well as you like.



“The Official Draw is one of those uncontrollable events. Knowing that the Official Draw takes place in the middle of the night, I am positive that I will be awake and ready for a call from our manager.”



Canada, currently ranked 10th in the world, qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup last November at the CONCACAF Gold Cup. This will be Canada’s 4th entry to a FIFA Women’s World Cup. In 2003, Canada finished in fourth place.



“In 2003, we were quite pleased with the result of the Official Draw,” says Pellerud. “I look forward to this year’s outcome, knowing that to whichever group we are drawn, we will be ready.”



Canada is currently training as a team in Vancouver, BC in anticipation of this fall’s FIFA Women’s World Cup. The senior team’s first international friendly matches for the 2007 season are 3 and 6 May against China and 12 May against the United States. Canada’s Olympic development team, meanwhile, which includes a few potential World Cup players, plays Mexico on 22 April and Argentina on 24 April.