Victorias City in Negros Occidental on Tuesday bared ongoing preparations for hosting the inaugural edition of the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup in November this year.
Mayor Abelardo Bantug III on Monday, July 14, led the meeting with representatives of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), Philippine Football Federation (PFF), and Homeworld Construction “to discuss preparations and iron out a few concerns,” the city government said in an update.
Staff of the City Engineering Office toured them during the site inspection of the Victorias City Coliseum, which is undergoing renovations to meet the FIFA standards.
The northern Negros city and Pasig City in Metro Manila have been named by FIFA and the Local Organizing Committee as the host cities of the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup set on Nov. 21 to Dec. 7.
FIFA said both cities “have a proven track record of successfully hosting sports and cultural events, making them ideal venues for this groundbreaking competition.”
PFF president John Anthony Gutierrez thanked the local governments of Pasig City and Victorias City for their support in “providing a truly unforgettable experience for the participating teams, the fans, and the Filipino community.”
FIFA director of tournaments Jaime Yarza said they are confident that, in collaboration with host cities, they will “deliver a tournament that meets the highest standards in terms of facilities and services and offers the players and fans a top-class experience.”
The 16 nations that will see action in the first FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup are Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, IR Iran, Italy, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Tanzania and Thailand.
Last February, Victorias City entered into a host city agreement with FIFA and the PFF, which Gutierrez described as a “game-changer for grassroots football in Negros Occidental.”*PNA