Exhibition soccer boosts FIFA chances, says Moncton

The City of Moncton is hoping an international women's soccer game in May will help its case to be a host for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Canada's seventh-ranked national team will take on China, ranked 18th, May 30 at Moncton Stadium as both teams prepare to compete at the London Olympics this summer.

It might just be an exhibition game, but it's a huge opportunity for the cityand for soccer fans, said city manager Jacques Dub.

Landing this game is proof that if you build it, they will come, Dubsaid.

"The City of Moncton and the University of Moncton had the foresight to put in a natural field there and that's very attractive for our national team and any other soccer event that we might want to attract here."

Moncton is also in the running to be one of the host cities for the in 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Canada was namedhost nation of the 2015 World Cup last March by FIFA, the soccer's world governing body.

Seven cities were involved in Canada's bid: Moncton, Halifax, Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Montreal andOttawa. But only six cities host gamesat the tournament, so onecitystill has to beeliminated.

Hosting the exhibition game gives Moncton one more chance to demonstrate its ability to handle world-class events, said Jeff Salvis, executive director of Soccer New Brunswick.

"I really think that we wouldn't have been given this game to host unless we were being given very, very serious consideration as one of the host cities," said Salvis.

FIFA is expected to make its decision onwhich of the six cities are successful in their host bids in June, just after the Moncton exhibition game.