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	EMAIL WOMENSOC@aol.com

April 28, 1998

Members of the U.S. Soccer Family will have the first chance to purchase Stadium Series Packages primarily through a direct mail ticket brochure targeted at soccer fans in and around the venue communities. In addition, Women's World Cup will advertise the ticket sale in soccer publications and newsletters and will be on-site selling tickets at major soccer matches and tournaments throughout May. Fans will have until May 31 to return their brochure, or call 1-800-992-8457 to purchase tickets. Members of the U.S. Soccer Family purchasing tickets between May 1-31 will receive from 5-15% off regular stadium Series Package prices. Later this year, the Stadium Series Packages will go on sale to the general public.

Single game ticket prices will range from $18 for a first-round doubleheader to $100 for a ticket to the Women's World Cup Final and Third Place Match at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. There will be three categories of tickets available for each game, with Category I tickets being the most expensive and Category III being the least expensive. The average ticket price for a Women's World Cup doubleheader will be $36, as compared to more than $70 for a single match at the 1994 Men's World Cup.

Ticketmaster had been chosen as the exclusive computerized ticket service for the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup and will handle calls to the 800 number. The Women's World Cup Ticket Order Form will also be available on the U.S. Soccer Federation Web Site at US-Soccer.com.

The venues for the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup are: Boston (Foxboro Stadium), Chicago (Soldier Field), Los Angeles (Rose Bowl), New York.New Jersey (Giants Stadium), Portland, OR (Civic Stadium), San Francisco Bay (Spartan Stadium in San Jose and Stanford Stadium), and Washington D.C. (Jack Kent Cooke Stadium).

* Due to anticipated demand, special prices are not offered for the Women's World Cup Final and Third Place Match. All Matches are doubleheaders, other than the semifinals.

March 24, 1998
Anson Dorrance Named To 1999 Fifa Women's World Cup Advisory Board

LOS ANGELES -- Anson Dorrance has been named to the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup Advisory Board. Dorrance, 46, becomes the 14th member of the WWC Advisory Board.

"We are pleased that Anson has accepted our invitation to join the Advisory Board of the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup," said Messing. "His tremendous contribution to the sport in evidenced by the continued success of the National Team program he helped build and the growth of women's soccer at all levels in the United States."

"I'm very excited to be a part of the organizing effort for the 1999 Women's World Cup," said Dorrance. "This event will bring women's soccer to the forefront of American sporting life and shine attention on a sport that continues to weave itself into this country's cultural fabric."

February 19, 1998
1999 FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP NAMES FOUR VENUE DIRECTORS
Directors to Head Women's World Cup Marketing and Operations in Boston, Chicago, New York and Portland

LOS ANGELES -- The 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup Organizing Committee has filled the Venue Director position in four of its seven communities as preparations gain momentum towards staging the third world championship for women's soccer in June and July of 1999.

Tim Larkin, who served as Manager of Stadium Operations for the Rose Bowl during World Cup USA 1994, will head the Boston venue with games at Foxboro Stadium. Matt Alexander, who comes to Women's World Cup after serving as Marketing Director for the U.S Senior Open Golf Championship, will head the Chicago venue at Soldier Field. Susan Marenoff, previously the Vice President for Sales and Client Services at Madison Square Garden in New York, will run the New York/New Jersey venue at Giants Stadium. Jim Taylor, formerly the Director of Corporate Communications and Community Relations for the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA, will head up the Portland venue at the downtown Civic Stadium.

"With the selection of our Venue Directors, we will begin to create a presence and set up a base for operations in our host communities," said Marla Messing, President of the Organizing Committee. "Each of the people we have selected brings a vast amount of experience in the marketing and operations of sporting events, and each will be a valuable addition to the team as we begin to market tickets this Spring."

Larkin comes to Women's World Cup from Reebok International, where he served as an event producer for the company at trade shows. International sales meetings, product launches and international sporting events. He also served as the venue manager for beach volleyball at the 1996 Olympics. Alexander carries impressive credentials in professional golf tournament management, as well as ticket and sponsorship sales. He secured more than $1.6 million of corporate support for the 1997 U.S Senior Open.

While at the world-famous Madison Square Garden, Marenoff was responsible for all aspects of ticket sales for the NBA Knicks, NHL Rangers, arena football, tennis tournaments, college basketball and other MSG and MSG Theater events, including boxing, family shows, and volleyball. Taylor has been deeply involved with the Portland area grass roots community, overseeing all corporate affairs, community relations, public service, and special events for the Trail Blazers organization.

The Organizing Committee expects to name Venue Directors for the remaining three venues -- Los Angeles, site of the Women's World Cup Final, San Francisco Bay/San Jose and Washington D.C. -- in the next few weeks. Fans can obtain FIFA Women's World Cup event information and sign up for a priority ticket list by calling toll-free (888)4-WWC-INFO.

November 21, 1997
The 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup Committee Announces Names of The Seven World Cup '99 Venues

The opening game will be played in Giants Stadium (capacity 77,000), New Jersey.

Final game will be at the Rose Bowl Stadium (102,000), Pasadena, California

Other Sites:

• Foxboro Stadium (60,000) Boston, Massachusetts
• Civic Stadium (27,000) Portland, Oregon
• Spartan Stadium (31,200) jointly with Stanford Stadium (60,000) , California
• Jack Kent Cooke Stadium (80,000), Washington D.C.
• Soldier Field Stadium (65,000), Chicago, Illinois

July 8, 1997

MISSION STATEMENT FOR 1999 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP

To stage a breakthrough event for women's sport and inspire the next generation of female athletes.

The Official Logo of the Women's World Cup '99 Unveiled by the Organizing Committee

"This logo captures the history and pageantry of World Cup soccer and the grace and beauty of the women's game," said Marla Messing, President of the Women's World Cup 1999 Organizing Committee. "This logo adds to the growing excitement and anticipation of World Cup '99, when the world's largest team sport event for women will take place here in the United States."

Duffy Design of Minneapolis created the logo.

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Toll Free Number Available for Event Information

The Women's World Cup 1999 organizing Committee has set up a toll free phone number: 888-4-WWC-INFO for event information. Fans who call will be added to a priority list so that they may purchase Women's World Cup tickets prior to general public sales.

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Kindly note that these exclusive interviews are copyrighted, and that requests for permission to reproduce or extract any part of this should be made on your letterhead and Faxed or mailed to Women's Soccer World, 1728 Mulberry St., Montgomery, Alabama 36106 . Fax: 334-264-8129

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August 9, 1997

Kit Simeone appointed as Director of Grassroots Development by Women's World Cup'99 Committee

As reported in our commentary (July 20, 1997) Kit Simeone, US Youth Soccer Director of operations has resigned from USYSA effective September 15, 1997 to become the liasion person for the World Cup Committee.

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July 8, 1997

Press Conference in New York Following Unveiling of The Logo for FIFA Women's World Cup USA 1999

By Richard A. Crow

Q & A WITH MARLA MESSING
© copyright 1997 Women's Soccer World

Q: What will it take to create a World Cup atmosphere that will permeate the country in 1999?

Marla Messing: I think that World Cups by their nature are very exciting events, so I think just bringing everyone here in 1999 will create the kind of excitement that we need for it to be a World Cup event.

Q: FIFA seems to be very supportive of this event. What are the chances of attracting some of the sponsors that were not involved in the1994 World Cup?

Maria Messing: We think our chances are very good for those companies that haven't traditionally been involved in soccer. The whole women's sports aspect of our event is very attractive to them, so we think that we are going to be broadening our traditional base of corporate sponsors with the World Cup.

Q: Is there any thought of piggy-backing Women's World Cup games to MLS matches?

Marla Messing: It's going to be tough to do that because all 24 first-round games will be played as doubleheaders, so to attach another MLS game to that wouldn't work. To the extent that we'll be playing in Major League Soccer Stadiums, we want to make it work for the MLS and the Women's World Cup. We will certainly sit down with them and make sure that the schedule is working for both organizations that summer.

Q: Is there an exclusivity agreement where FIFA takes control of the stadium for 60 days like the men's World Cup?

Marla Messing: When we first proposed to FIFA to expand this tournament to larger stadiums, we said that we would not be able to get an exclusive use period like we had in1994. It's really unnecessary since MLS games will go on that summer and we'll be working with them.

Q: Are there any plans to cross-promote the women's team with the men's World Cup team?

Marla Messing: Certainly the women are going to be playing an aggressive schedule next year and the men will be getting ready for the FIFA World Cup in France. We're going to see about doing some double headers with the men and again trying to bring the women's audience to the men's game and the men's audience to the women's game.

Q: The low attendance at the Women's European Cup can't be encouraging?

Marla Messing: We really didn't look at those numbers and think that's a reflection of what 1999 is going to look like. We look at the USA vs. England match on May 9 in San Jose, California drawing 17,000 people.

This is the largest commercial market in the world and this is the largest commercial market for women's soccer. So again, those numbers don't discourage us. People will come out for big events, and they'll come out to see the pinnacle event in virtually every sport. While we won't have the Olympic name attached to us, we will have the World Cup name attached to us and we think that's just as important and meaningful to the American public.

Q: Will you have a liaison with the 18 million people who play soccer?

Marla Messing: Yes we are. Actually, I'm trying to think if I can say this. (Pauses to consider whether to reveal who this will be.) [see Commentary] We think that this event will be supported by the grassroots. In the case of '94, because the tickets were sold so fast, a lot of those soccer players, recreational players, soccer participants and soccer families never had the opportunity to purchase tickets. [see toll free number for ticket priority]

We think this is an opportunity for them to be part of this World Cup, and so for us it's very important to connect with the youth. We have a great relationship with USYSA and with AYSO and we intend to have more formal relationships with those organizations.

Q: Do you still plan on waiting until December of 1998 to put licensed merchandise on the market?

Marla Messing: Ideally it would be out on the market sooner, but the reality of that business is that there are long lead times. We may be able to get pins, key chains and some of the easier to manufacture items out but again, given the long lead times, I think Christmas of '98 is a good target for us to start seeing merchandise in the market.

Q: How about August of '98, before the fall season starts?

Marla Messing: It would be great, and if we can make it happen, we'll make it happen.

SELECTED QUOTES FROM FORMAL PRESENTATIONS

Alan Rothenberg: As Donna de Varona and Maria Messing said in their video messages, in 1999 we will have huge record-setting crowds in major stadiums in major cities throughout the United States.

In short, at the end, we will have established women's soccer firmly, affirmatively as a front-line American spectator sport. Beyond that we will have proven that women's sports can be commercially viable in this country.

One of the other legacies we have from the 1994 World Cup is a huge number of people throughout the United States who are now experienced soccer promoters and organizers. We are utilizing many of these people and we will continue to do so once we announce our venues and start moving into major markets.

In 1994, we also had the benefit of the advice and counsel of people who weren't working on a day-to-day basis, but helped us an awful lot. We are now about to create a board of advisors for the 1999 World Cup so that we can get advice and council from people of prominence and ability throughout the country.

This morning we would like to announce the first of those people: the commissioner of Major League Soccer, Doug Logan.

When you see where the final cities and the final stadiums are in the venue search, it is clear that six of the nine cities are cities where Major League Soccer has or will have a presence. Six of the12 stadiums that are vying are Major League Soccer Stadiums and we look forward to a very good close relationship with Major League Soccer as we put on the World Cup.

(Rothenberg welcomes Logan to the advisory board)

In today's world, there's only one way you can succeed in an event as big as this, and that is with massive corporate support. You need an identity that the corporate world can rally around and therefore help us.

We have just created something called U.S. Soccer Properties. Back in the pre-1994 period, that World Cup period had to help support the United States Soccer Federation's marketing activity because the United States Soccer Federation had no in-house capability. Things have progressed so fast and so far in women's soccer in this country that the USSF has now created the United States Soccer Properties, which will be responsible for all the marketing, sponsorships, licensing, servicing of sponsors and other marketing efforts for soccer in various parts in this country.

Dan Flynn, who is going to be the president of U.S. Soccer Properties was an All-American soccer player. He learned sports marketing at Anheuser Busch. He then was our venue director at the 1994 World Cup in Chicago and since that time has served as the deputy secretary and chief administrative officer of U.S. Soccer. Dan is now setting up an office in New York City.

One of the first clients for U.S. Soccer Properties is the Women's World Cup. U.S. Soccer Properties will be assisting in the marketing efforts for the Women's World Cup.

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Donna de Varona: It's a gift to be part of this team--to still be alive when the future looks so bright for women's sports.

There has been a cultural shift because of the participation of women in sports in the world. Little girls now expect to be taken to the ball parks and the soccer fields. What they're learning out there is not just how to win, but to be team players, how to compete in our competitive society.

When we're talking about gender equity in the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Title IX, soccer has leap-frogged ahead. They're leading the way to gender equity because of the numbers. Seven-point-two million young women soccer players in America -- 18 million in all.

The 1999 Women's World Cup gives us all a worldwide platform to showcase just how far women's athletics have progressed in our society.

This 1999 tournament will engage players from 75 countries as they vie for 16 spots in a World Cup competition that will take place from coast to coast in the most well known stadiums in this country.

Marla Messing: Since 1982, these commercial rights to FIFA championship events have been held by ISL, FIFA's marketing partner. It is incumbent on each organizing committee to conclude a deal with ISL to market these rights in its territory. Today, we have concluded our deal with ISL and we are officially launching our corporate marketing program. With U.S. Soccer forming U.S. Soccer properties, a company committed to marketing the sport of soccer, we will certainly be working closely with them to make sure we manage these rights properly.

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Q & A WITH ALAN ROTHENBERG
© copyright 1997 Women's Soccer World

Q.: In recent months, the Women's World Cup has been in the news. What progress has been made since Donna de Varona was named chair of the organizing committee?

Alan Rothenberg: We've made a lot of progress. We've solicited bids from cities. We got a whole group of great bids in, then we narrowed it down to 12 finalist stadiums, nine finalist cities. We've been working on logo development, we been working on corporate sponsorships and television rights with FIFA and ISL. All those are in place so that now we can start going out and getting corporate sponsorships, licensees, T.V. contracts and by the fall have our venues in place. Shortly after that we start selling tickets and get it up and running.

Q.: Do you think that FIFA sponsors that supported the 1994 World Cup will come back for this one?

Alan Rothenberg: My assumption is that the Women's World Cup will parallel very closely the men's World Cup of 1994 in terms of corporate sponsorship and support.

Q.: Do you think there will be some non-FIFA sponsors who will want to get involved in the unique event?

Alan Rothenberg: No doubt about it. The opportunities that are offered to companies are so broad; the demographics in women's soccer, in women's sport are really a higher scale than in men's. You have higher-educated, higher-income, more families, more females. I've seen various studies showing women being responsible for 83 percent of the purchases in this country. Obviously there are a lot of companies who are not traditional sponsors of men's sports who open up their eyes widely when they see the opportunity to sponsor women's sports. I think we'll do very well in that regard.

Q.: How important will it be to get the U.S. National Team back on the field and on television next year?

Alan Rothenberg: We think it's very important. We've got the best team in the world. The more this team gets exposure, the more the American public is going to like it. When the Federation signed the latest contract with the women's national team, we did something very unique, because concurrently we had the Women's World Cup organization sign contracts with all the same athletes to be spokespersons for the Women's World Cup, so this will be very helpful.

Q.: Before the men's World Cup in 1994 there was a survey that appeared in several big media outlets stating that more than 50 percent of all Americans didn't know the World Cup would be played in the United States. What can be done to avoid this disaster in1999?

Alan Rothenberg: I would hardly characterize the1994 World Cup as a disaster. I think it was an overwhelming success.

Q.: Not the event, but the lack awareness of the event before it started.

Alan Rothenberg: I'll take 50 percent of the American public. That's close to 150 million people. We'll have a build-up program and that's one of the reasons why having corporate sponsorship and good television contracts, because those people will bring the event before the public's eye frankly more than we can do.

Q.: The corporate community can get the message out to the general public, but what will be done to educate the nearly 20 million girls, women, men and boys who play soccer in this country about the Women's World Cup?

Alan Rothenberg: I think it just grows. Compare what you have to explain to people today to 10 years ago. People are learning--the World Cup has helped them, MLS has helped them, the Olympics have helped them and I think the Women's World Cup will help them some more. With each generation of Americans who play the game and now watch the game are starting to understand the nuances of what is a qualifier? What is a cup competition? They're learning.

Q.: Why doesn't U.S. Soccer allow sponsors to buy exclusively into the women's program. I understand that they have to buy into the entire national teams program?

Alan Rothenberg: That's the way it is currently structured, so we're legally bound through 1998 to do it that way. When our new contracts come up, we'll take a took at it.

Q.: U.S. Women's Cup has been going strong since 1994. Why did U.S. Soccer take it over from Region I when the organizers didn't want to give it up?

Alan Rothenberg: That should be a national program. lt shouldn't be a regional program. lt was great to see Region I do what it did to get it started, but the rest of the country deserves to participate.

Q.: Will Region I be able to hold another tournament with another name?

Alan Rothenberg: I assume they could hold some kind of regional tournament. Any state or region that wants to put on a tournament is free to hold one if it meets the standards.

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Q & A INTERVIEW WITH DONNA DE VARONA
© copyright 1997 Women's Soccer World

Q: What will distinguish this event from other summer activities in 1999?

Donna de Varona: This event will distinguish itself, because for the second time, we'll be providing a nationwide audience a traveling entertainment package of the best sporting women's soccer players in the world--the United States, China, Italy, Norway. We have discovered through my work, at least through Los Angeles Organizing Committee and men's World Cup soccer, that the U.S. fan has a big-sports mentality. They like to go out to the big events. They like to take their families. They like to go to an event that inspires young people, and they like to see the best athletes in the world play.

Q: Does the low attendance at the European championships concern you?

Donna de Varona: The European spectator is different than the American spectator. It's been proven as we travel throughout this country. I think there was only one venue where we got less than 5,000 people on a friendly gold-medal tour. We had 17,000 in San Jose, and in Chicago and Milwaukee we sold out. We had 11,000 for the U.S. Cup final at RFK Stadium and the event wasn't really well publicized. The fans will be there, and I don't think you can compare U.S. support with European.

Q: What is the challenge in marketing the foreign teams?

Donna de Varona: We hope that with proper lead time and a great television partner in place that we can create some friendly matches next year and showcase a lot of those players.

Q: For games featuring foreign teams, would you consider hosting auxiliary events such as a huge youth tournament so that you'll be guaranteed a decent gate?

Donna de Varona: I think we're going to consider a lot of those things, a lot of other supportive events around our tournament. We also want to be creative on how we pair the teams. We also certainly want to have the U.S. and we're looking at having them play in every host venue.

Q: Who will be your liaison with the nearly 20 million players in the soccer community?

Donna de Varona: I think that's a great idea. I think that's something we should do. I think what you have to look at is our resources. We have a pretty small budget as far as an organizing committee. Hopefully we can designate that. I think it's critical that we do have an ongoing relationship with the grassroots. I'm sure there is a volunteer out there that would love to do it. There's no question in my mind after working with the athletic community that there is going to be somebody out there who would like to take on that responsibility.

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U.S Soccer Establishes A New Unit -- U.S. Soccer Properties

The United States Soccer Federation has established a new unit responsible for managing the marketing activity for the sort's national governing body. Initial responsibilities will be development and sales of sponsorship packages, managing national team television activity, and assisting with the marketing of the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Among the elements under U.S. Soccer Properties management are television, sponsorship sales and servicing, events management and licensing.

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INTRODUCTION: The 1999 World Women's World Cup is the third to be staged by FIFA. The first in China (1991) was won by the United States, and the second in Sweden (1995) was won by Norway.

FIFA expects about 70 nations to compete in the qualifying rounds. 14 teams will join host team USA and defending champion Norway in the final tournament.

Final dates are not confirmed but tournament will probably take place from June 20-July 7, 1999.

Organizers plan to stage games in full sized facilities nationwide. Six sites are expected to be selected later this year.

Ticket prices and methods of sale will be established after venues are chosen, and may be on sale in mid-1998.

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The 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup is seen as not just a women's soccer event. The U.S. Soccer Federation and the Local Organizing Committee aim to use the tournament as a breakthrough event for all of women's sports. They contemplate a number of satellite events concerning women's sports in conjunction with the soccer games. With the women's sports climate so favorable in the United States, they are confident of leaving a legacy for women's sports as well as for soccer.

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June 17, 1997

FIFA Confirms Allocation of the 16 Places for the Final Competition in the United States

Organization	Places
UEFA (Europe)	6
APC (Asia/Pacific))	3
CAF (Africa)	2
CONMEBOL (South America)	1.5 *
CONCACAF (includes host USA)	2.5*
OFC (Oceanic)	1

*The half designation means that usually the CONMEBOL second place team will play off against the third place team in CONCACAF for a place in the final 16. For this World Cup this means the CONCACAF second place team will play CONMEBOL since USA has an automatic berth as host.

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EUFA DRAW FOR 1999 WORLD CUP

The groups for qualification for the 1999 World Cup in the USA were announced yesterday.

Each team in each group will play a home and away game with the other teams in its group. Those games will be played between August 1997 and August 1998.

The top two teams from each group will compete in September and October, 1998 for the final determination for going to the World Cup.

Group 1	Group 2	Group 3	Group 4
Sweden	Italy	Norway	Russia
Spain	Finland	Germany	Denmark
Iceland	France	England	Portugal
Ukraine	Switzerland	Holland	Belgium

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WSW COMMENTARY: As in most draws one group is usually considered to contain several of the stronger teams. As luck would have it, Norway and Germany find themselves in the same group again. If one looks at the 1996 Olympics, 1997 UEFA, etc. It seems that Norway and Germany are always battling it out in yet another game in the same group, and in this case the rest of the group will give them both a good game.

April 14, 1997

VENUE SELECTION PROCESS BEGINS FOR 1999 FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP

Los Angeles (Monday, April 14, 1997) Venue bid packages have been sent to 22 communities interested in hosting games, Marla Messing announced today. Between five and eight stadiums will be chosen to host 32 games.

"The 1999 Women's World Cup will be the biggest FIFA women's event staged and what better place than the United States, where so much progress has been made in soccer," said FIFA General Secretary Joseph S. "Sepp" Blatter. "We welcome the USA's strong intitiative to make this competition a nationwide event and look forward to an enthusiastic reception from the United States communities."

"The 1999 Women's World Cup is a perfect opportunity for communities to participate in two burgeoning areas of sport - soccer and women's athletics," said Committe Chair Donna de Varona.

Venue Process: The bid package is intended to gauge the enthusiasm and commitment of the community for hosting games. Potential venues and communities are being asked to present an overview of stadium facilities, potential civic and government support, a history of community involvement in major soccer events and women's sports, population demographics and volunteer availability. Volunteers will play a major part in the tournament, as they did for World Cup USA 1994, which enlisted the help of 15,000 volunteers for the month-long event.

The preliminary round of the WWC will be played in double-header formats. The entire three-week, 32-game tournament will encompass 19 playing dates with the breakdown as follows: 12 first round double headers (24 games), 4 single-game quarterfinal dates, 2 semifinals and a double-header featuring the third-place match and Final Game.

The bid committees are being asked to submit an application fee and to meet certain ticket guarantees which vary based on the number of matches a venue will host as well as the scope of the matches, e.d., a larger guarantee will be required of the venues hosting the Opening Game - which will feature the U.S.National Team and opening ceremonies - the semifinals and Final Game.

As host, the U.S. Gains an automatic berth into the field of 16. The 15 other spots will be determined through qualification matches taking place from August 1997 through December 1998 in seven FIFA confederations.

Approximately 74 nations are expected to enter these qualifying matches: Europe 16, Asia 12-14, CONCACAF (North and Central America and the Caribbean 8-10), South America 10, Africa 16 and Oceania 6-8. Defending WWC champion Norway does not get an automatic berth in the tournament and must qualify in Europe. After qualifying is completed, the WWC Final Draw will be held in December of 1998 at a site to be determined.

All bids are due by May 30 at which time the WWC Organizing Committee will reduce the list to approximately 12. In June of 1997, a venue selection team, which may include FIFA representatives, will visit the sites. The final selection of venues will be made and announced in the Fall of 1997.

March 19, 1997

DONNA de VARONA TO CHAIR 1999 FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

At a news conference held in New York today Alan I. Rothenberg,U.S. Soccer Federation President, announced that Donna de Varona would chair the Organizing Committee and that Marla P. Messing will serve as President and Chief Operating Officer.

"Donna de Varona holds a unique position in women's sports in America," said Rothenberg in his introduction. "No woman in sports in the United States combines her experience, ability and deserved respect. As an added attraction, she's a soccer mom. Linking Donna with Marla Messing's organizational talent, intelligence, energy, experience and work ethic ensures that the 1994 FIFA Women's World Cup will indeed be the breakthrough event for women's sports we have set as our goal."

In her reply De Varona said that "as a member of the Board of the men's World Cup USA1994, I saw how spectacular the 1994 World Cup was in the United States, and I am honored to come back to soccer for this event. The timing is perfect for the 1999 Women's World Cup women's sports are an integral part of the United States scene nowadays and soccer is now part of the American culture. I recall that there were some doubters before the 1994 men's World Cup but there should be no doubters about this event. The United States has led the way in women's sports, and in 1999 we will continue that role."

Continuing with the same theme Messing said "soccer is meeting every challenge placed before it in the United States, and I am looking forward very much to contributing to another World Cup success. We have a great deal of work to do not only in staging such a huge event but also in sharing women's sports ideals with the American public. We are already at work developing our infrastructure so that America will again have a proud summer of world-class soccer in 1999."

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WWC'99 Board of Directors
(Initial members, additional members will be appointed in the coming months.)

• Melissa Apcel, General Counsel U.S. Soccer Federation
• Donna de Varona, Chair WWC Organizing Committee
• William Goaziou, Treasurer U.S. Soccer Federation
• Marla P. Messing, President and Chief Operating Officer WWC Organizing Committee
• Lawrence A. Monaco, Jr., Executive Vice-President U.S. Soccer Federation
• Alan I. Rothenberg, President U.S. Soccer Federation
• Hank Steinbrecher, Executive Director/General Secretary U.S. Soccer Federation

Related Information

Donna de Varona

Co-Founder of the Women's Sports Foundation

Double Olympic Gold Medalist

Television broadcaster, producer, and executive (was an ABC-TV sports commentator)

Consultant to the U.S. Senate on the Amateur Sports Act and Title IX

Member of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sport

Adviser to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic games President Peter V. Ueberroth

Member of the Board of Directors of World Cup USA 1994

Marla P. Messing

Executive Vice-President/Office of the Chairman at the 1994 men's World Cup

Member of the Executive Management Committee World Cup 1994

Responsible for overseeing the Ticketing Dept., Entertainment Properties Department and several special events including the Final Draw at World Cup 1994

Acted as a"troubleshooter."

Local Organizing Committee

Chair: Donna de Varon

President and Chief Operating Officer: Marla P. Messing

Senior Vice-President/Business Affairs: June McIvor

The LOC envisions a staff of 40-50 employees by tournament time with 50% of them being located in the individual venues.

Headquarters:

1999 FIFA Women's World Cup Organizing Committee

2029 Century Park East, 14th Floor

Los Angeles, California 90067

Telephone:310-286-2992

Fax:310-284-7843

US SOCCER FEDERATION ASKED ABOUT PLANS FOR 1999 FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP BY FIFA COMMITTEE

In Zurich on Wednesday, 19th. February 1997 -the United States Soccer Federation presented their plans for the organization of the 1999 Cup to the FIFA Committee for Women's Football, agreeing to run it like the Men's 1994 World Cup with games played across the nation.

USSF President Alan I.Rothenberg said the USSF had set up a committee to study how best to promote women's football through the Women's World Cup, as football in the US had been promoted by the FIFA Men's World Cup in 1994. He said that the United States would try and build on the success of the Women's National Team who won both the 1991 World Cup and the 1996 Olympic Gold Medal Game.

Approximate dates reserved for the tournament in1999 were the last ten days of June and the first ten days of July.

Proposals for a women's all-star match to take place at the time of the draw were discussed (December 1998?), and for a symposium on women's football to be held during the tournament itself.

Qualifying tournaments in the various continents will range from August 1997 until November 1998. The number of teams expected to enter the various continental qualifiers is as follows:

• Europe 16
• Asia 12-14
• CONCACAF 8-10
• CONMEBOL 10
• Africa approximately 16
• Oceania 6-8.

The final allocation of berths per continent is to be reconsidered by the Executive Committee.

Additionly the Committee welcomed the UEFA project for an under-18 women's championship, and discussed a proposal for the later introduction of a confederations' cup tournament reserved for the winners of the respective continental championships.