U.S. GETS WOMEN'S WORLD CUP ROSE BOWL, CARSON CANDIDATES FOR FINAL AT END OF SUMMER.

Byline: Fred J. Robledo Staff Writer

It's back.

The United States' persistence in pursuing the 2003 Women's World Cup and its experience in staging global soccer championships were rewarded Monday when FIFA, soccer's world governing body, announced the quadrennial event is returning to the U.S. this summer.

FIFA'S eight-member emergency committee chose the U.S. over Sweden primarily because of the United States' ambitious bid, stadium venues, and the highly successful 1999 World Cup in the U.S., which ended with a television audience of more than 40 million for the championship, in which the U.S. beat China in penalty kicks in front of 90,125 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

The decision comes three weeks after FIFA moved the tournament from China because of the SARS virus. China will host the next Women's World Cup in 2007.

``We went after this event because we believed it was the right thing to do,'' said Dr. Robert Contiguglia, president of U.S. Soccer. ``We believe the 2003 Cup will show the greatest women athletes in the world, and it was only proper that we provided the right platform for them to play in it.''

Sixteen countries will compete in FIFA'S fourth Women's World Cup, which is tentatively scheduled Sept. 23-Oct. 11.

The tournament is expected to be in played four to seven stadiums. FIFA and U.S. officials hope to determine the venues and dates in the next two weeks.

Several stadiums are under consideration to hold the U.S. games, with the leading contenders being the new Home Depot Center in Carson; RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.; Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass.; and Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

The Rose Bowl, which has had discussions with U.S. officials and has the date available for the title game, is aggressively pursing the championship.

U.S. Soccer Secretary General Dan Flynn said roughly half the venues chosen will be stadiums with a capacity of more than 50,000, the other half with a minimum of 30,000.

Flynn talked about the possibility of returning to the Rose Bowl but hinted the Home Depot Center, which has 27,000 seats, also is an attractive site, and that seats could be added to reach the 30,000 minimum.

The Rose Bowl hosted the 1984 Olympic gold-medal soccer game, 1994 World Cup and '99 Women's World Cup to capacity crowds.

``I think the history of the Rose Bowl is a positive statement about our sport,'' Flynn said. ``The 2003 World Cup is working under a completely different set of dynamics (short time frame), but certainly the Rose Bowl is under consideration.

``We also have to recognize the great investment at the Home Depot Center. For those who haven't seen it, it's a magical place and soccer-specific venue for our U.S. national teams.

``So, we have two real good options there, but clearly, the legacy of '94 and '99 with the Rose Bowl being filled to the rim is a positive statement.''

Flynn offered another hint the championship will be in the Los Angeles area.

``Starting (the tournament) east and moving west is a more likely scenario,'' he said. ``We've had a good experience in the past in the Los Angeles market. It doesn't mean it's going to go there, but that's the kind of thinking that goes in.''

The successful 1999 World Cup in the U.S. drew an average of 38,833 fans a game, largely because the U.S. had two years to prepare and because it was held in June and July, which are slower months for major sports in this country.

The 2003 version isn't expected to draw the same attention, primarily because the U.S. only has four months to prepare. It also will compete against an audience that includes the NFL, college football, the end of the baseball season and beginning of the playoffs, and the NHL openers.

``It will make it more difficult with these dates,'' said Alan Rothenberg, who organized the 1994 men's World Cup in the United States. ``Ultimately it is tougher to nail down the stadiums we need to use because of possible football commitments. It's a lot easier when you have the summer all to yourself.''

Players from the 1999 U.S. World Cup team don't expect the same media crush and madness that landed the team on several major magazine covers and talk-show circuits, but they still expect a huge event.

``I don't think it will be the caliber that it was in '99,'' said Carla Overbeck, captain of that championship U.S. team. ``But the United States is capable of doing a lot of great things in terms of organizing tournaments.''

Coach April Heinrichs agreed.

``While it won't duplicate what we did in '99 in terms of the time of the year and the years of preparation that we had, I think it can be special,'' Heinrichs said. ``There's a buzz about it.''

The 1999 tournament made household names of Mia Hamm, Briana Scurry and Brandi Chastain, who provided the signature moment by ripping off her shirt after scoring the winning penalty kick.

``There's nothing quite like playing in front of 90,000-plus screaming USA fans,'' Chastain said. ``If we could do that again, it would be marvelous - not only for the players on the national team, but for every young girl who comes to any WUSA game or hadn't had the opportunity in '99 to come to a game.''

The U.S. will be competing for its third Women's World Cup title. It won the inaugural Women's World Cup in China in 1991, and Norway won the 1995 championship in Sweden.

The Women's World Cup will give a significant boost to WUSA, which has been a financial disappointment and is looking to promote its new stars, such as Aly Wagner.

However, for that to happen, the U.S. needs to have another successful tournament, as it did in 1999.

``Anyone that was truly around in '99 knows that the media excitement is what helped us sell the tickets,'' Heinrichs said. ``That excitement wouldn't be replicated if the U.S. team goes out early.''

The Associated Press contributed to this report.