Planning Women's World Cup could become a difficult chore

NEW YORK -- The U.S. soccer community had nearly three years to put together the 1999 Women's World Cup, and it was a rousing success.

It has 3 1/2 months to organize this one, and anyone expecting a repeat of the '99 extravaganza might be disappointed.

Still, bringing the tournament to the United States after FIFA moved it from China because of the SARS virus was about the only way to save the event. Sweden, the other bidder, admittedly does not have the infrastructure or the venues to satisfy FIFA's needs.

But World Cup '03 almost certainly won't reach the phenomenal heights of four years ago, when the United States pulled off a neat hat trick:

Winning the title for the second time, beating China in a penalty-kick shootout;

Selling out U.S. games in NFL-size stadiums as women's soccer was on the front pages of newspapers for nearly a month;

Creating so many stars it spawned the first women's professional soccer league in this country, the WUSA.

This year, the United States might very well win again. It certainly will be favored over Norway, Germany, China and Brazil. But to expect 50,000-plus crowds -- or to even schedule many games in stadiums that big -- is unlikely given the competition in late September through mid-October.

Getting the sport in the headlines against the NFL, college football and the baseball pennant races is a formidable challenge.

"Things must come together really quickly," said Tony DiCicco, coach of the 1999 champions and now the WUSA commissioner. "I know comparisons will be made, they have to be realistic.

"Ticket sales will be much more of a challenge this time.

" At the same time, I remember in 1999 it took a long time for people to recognize what was happening. Now they will know and that is one of the positive things.

"I still think we can have a tremendous event, but in four months of planning as opposed to 36 months."

Among the most significant matters U.S. Soccer must accomplish in less than four months are arranging for venues worthy of a World Cup; scheduling 16 doubleheaders; and setting up television coverage.

While the 1999 tournament was played in such places as Soldier Field, FedEx Field, Giants Stadium, Stanford Stadium and the Rose Bowl, this one could wind up with more games in smaller venues like Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, and Home Depot Stadium in Carson, Calif.

"We're looking at a likely scenario of four to seven stadiums with half of those able to seat over 50,000," U.S. Soccer secretary general Dan Flynn said.

If the tournament is played "coast to coast," as U.S. Soccer president Bob Contiguglia promised, organizers must be fair to the participants and not require lengthy trips between games. Four years ago, with a schedule designed well in advance, the Americans played in New Jersey, Chicago, Foxboro, Mass.; Landover, Md.; Palo Alto, Calif.; and Pasadena, Calif.

But China went from California, to Oregon and New Jersey, back to California, to Massachusetts and back to the Rose Bowl.

Finally, the television dilemma.

While organizers would prefer a predominance of weekend games, particularly on Saturday when most WUSA games are held, there is little room on ESPN or ABC, which have the rights to U.S. broadcasts. ESPN, for instance, regularly has five or six college football games on ESPN or ESPN2 on Saturdays, including several conference tie-ins. ABC might have some room, but not much.

Friday nights aren't necessarily much better. On cable is regular boxing programming and major league baseball.

An ESPN spokesman said the network "was working with everyone involved to try to maximize exposures."

Sunday? Well, the NFL owns that, although the baseball playoffs get a share of attention, too.

Soccer? Even the Women's World Cup?

A very tough sell.

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