The '99 FIFA Women's World Cup Organizing Committee
announced its venues and allocation of games that will be
held starting with its opening ceremonies on June 19, 1999.
Venues for the 19 playing dates include: Foxboro Stadium
(Foxboro, MA); Soldier Field (Chicago, IL); Giants Stadium
(E. Rutherford, NJ); Civic Stadium (Portland, OR); Spartan
Stadium (San Jose, CA); Stanford Stadium (Palo Alto, CA);
Jack Kent Cooke Stadium (Raljon, MD); and the Rose Bowl
(Pasadena, CA), which will host the final game (FIFA). Giants
Stadium will host the opening ceremonies, followed by a
doubleheader featuring the U.S. team (STAR-LEDGER, 11/19).
ANGRY IN DC: RFK Stadium officials, "angry with not
being selected" as the site for the finals, told FIFA that
they "would not take part in the games," according to Thomas
Heath of the WASHINGTON POST. RFK Assistant Stadium Manager
Mark McCullers: "We felt that Washington deserved the final
game, not only because it's the nation's capital, but because
it's a historically successful soccer market and deserving of
the final match." RFK's refusal to host early-round Women's
World Cup action led to Jack Kent Cooke Stadium receiving the
World Cup bid (WASHINGTON POST, 11/19).