STATS’ coverage of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Edmonton, Alberta, will begin June 6, 2015, just hours after the UEFA Champions League Final. Host team Canada will face off against China to kick off the action. This summer’s tournament promises to be the most competitive Women’s World Cup in history, and STATS will be covering it every step of the way, from the opening match in Edmonton to the July 5 final in Vancouver.
Defending champions Japan, who won their first world title in 2011 in a thrilling penalty shootout against the United States, will look to become just the second country to repeat as Women’s World Champions (a feat previously accomplished by Germany in 2003 and 2007). However, they will face strong opposition from perennial favorites Brazil, Germany and the United States, as well as hosts Canada and an up-and-coming French team. This will be the first year the Women’s World Cup includes 24 teams (it previously included just 16), making this a true global event. Eight nations, including the Netherlands, Cameroon and Thailand, will be making their Women’s World Cup debut.
This tournament may also be the last chance for a world title for one of the game’s all-time greats, Abby Wambach. The 34-year-old member of the U.S. Women’s National Team will be appearing in her fourth Women’s World Cup this summer, entering the tournament with over 175 international goals in her 14-year tenure. Wambach was also named FIFA World Player of the year in 2012—the only thing missing from her resume is a World Cup trophy, and this may very well be her last chance to win it.
STATS will provide full live coverage of all 52 games in this year’s Women’s World Cup, from real-time scoring, including location data and visualization, to editorial content, as well as historic result, scorer and shootout data for all past Women’s World Cups.
