No stadium, no World Cup for Halifax: FIFA delegates

A delegation from FIFA has been travelling across Canada to inspect potential host cities for the 20-15 women’s world cup of soccer and wrapped up the tour with a visit to Halifax.

The FIFA members were joined by Canadian Soccer Association officials for an inspection of athlete accomodations and practice fields on Sunday.

However the one venue they couldn’t inspect was the most important – the stadium that would host the games.

Halifax is the only potential host city that doesn’t have a stadium at present, and the head of FIFA Women’s Football was blunt about the city’s chances if one isn’t built.

“If we have no guarantee that one of the cities is not fulfilling any requirement, whether it’s the stadium or anything else, then obviously this will not be a possible host city,” she said.

Canadian Soccer Association president Dr. Dominique Maestracci said he’s eager to see Canada present a true coast-to-coast event, but agreed that a city without a stadium is a non-starter.

“If we propose a city where there is no stadium, I know the answer from FIFA already, and I will not propose something that I know will be refused,” he said.

Mayor Peter Kelly says council is expecting a detailed business case study in mid-December and will make a final decision on the stadium then.

“It’s important that we meet that time frame,” he said. “Council will have a very strong decision to make at that time, and my goal and hope is that we move this one forward.”

The study coming to council in December will include cost estimates, design proposals and candidate sites for a multi-use, 20,000 seat stadium.