Germany 2011: 'Welcome back'

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Oct 31, 2007

[WOMEN'S WORLD CUP] FIFA named Germany as the host of the 2011 Women's World Cup.

The decision, announced by FIFA president Sepp Blatter following a meeting of the executive committee on Tuesday in Zurich, comes exactly one month after Germany successfully defended its Women's World Cup title, beating Brazil, 2-0, in the final in Shanghai.

Germany, which beat out Canada for the right to host the 2011 finals, hosted the 2006 World Cup and will be only the second European country to host the women's tournament. Sweden was the host of the 1995 finals.

"A lot of progress has already been made in women's football," DFB president president Theo Zwanziger, "and we promise not of course to imitate the 2006 World Cup but to organize a World Cup characterized by respect and fair play."

The German bid committee adopted the motto "Welcome back,"emphasizing the successful men's finals of a year ago.

Canada hosted the hugely popular Under-19 Women's World Cup in 2002 and the Under-20 World Cup in 2007, but it was given little chance against the German heavyweight.

FIFA's decision was another setback for Canadian soccer, rocked by upheaval within the Canadian Soccer Association and charges of CSA mismanagement.

Fred Nykamp is suing the CSA for more than $1.75 million after he left his job as chief executive officer of Canada Basketball in May to accept the position of CEO with the CSA, but the CSA board of directors failed to ratify his employment contract.