Women’s Soccer Championship Is Coming to America in 1999

The United States on Friday was awarded the right to stage the third FIFA Women’s World Championship, the soccer tournament to be played in five East Coast cities in June and July of 1999.

The first championship was held in China in 1991 and won by the U.S. team, which finished third at the next championship, in Sweden in 1995.

Australia and Chile also initially expressed interest in staging the 1999 tournament, but backed out once the United States’ bid was announced.

Unlike World Cup ‘94, the women’s championship will be limited to a single time zone, at FIFA’s request. Sixteen teams, including the United States as host and Norway as defending champion, will take part.

Cities that are being considered include Allentown, Pa.; Boston; Buffalo, N.Y.; Davidson, N.C.; Greensboro, N.C.; Newark, Del.; New Britain, Conn.; New Brunswick, N.J., and Richmond, Va.

The championship final is expected to be played at RFK Stadium in Washington.