U.S. NETS WORLD CUP ROSE BOWL AMONG POSSIBLE VENUES FOR FINAL.

Byline: Fred J. Robledo

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 coming back to the United States.

FIFA'S eight-member emergency committee chose the United States over Sweden primarily because of the nation's ambitious bid, stadium venues and its success hosting 1999 World Cup. That Cup ended with a national television audience of more than 40 million for the championship game, in which the United States beat China on penalty kicks after playing to a 0-0 draw in front of 90,125 fans at the Rose Bowl.

The decision came three weeks after FIFA moved the tournament from China because of health concerns stemming from the recent outbreak of the SARS virus. China will host the next Women's World Cup in 2007 instead.

``We went after this event because we believed it was the right thing to do,'' said Dr. Robert Contiguglia, the 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 to run Sept. 23-Oct. 11.

The tournament is expected to be held in four-to-seven venues, and FIFA and U.S. officials hope to determine the dates within the next two weeks.

Several facilities are under consideration, 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 been in discussions with U.S. officials and has the date available for the championship, is aggressively pursuing the championship again.

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

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

The Rose Bowl held the 1984 Olympic Gold Medal soccer game, 1994 World Cup and 1999 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, 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 that 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 highly successful 1999 World Cup drew an average of 38,833 fans per game, largely because the United States had two years to prepare, and because it was held in June and July, which are slow months for major sports in this country.

The 2003 version isn't expected to draw the same attention, primarily because the United States only has four months to prepare, and also because the World Cup will compete for its audience against the NFL, college football, late-season and postseason baseball and 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 out of Mia Hamm, Briana Scurry and Brandi Chastain, who provided the Kodak 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. team will be competing for its third Women's World Cup crown.

The United States won the 1991 inaugural Women's World Cup in China; Norway won the 1995 championship in Sweden.

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

However, for that to happen, the United States needs to have another successful tournament, as it did in '99.

``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.''

Fred J. Robledo can be reached at [phone], Ext. 4485, or by e-mail at [e-mail]. The Associated Press contributed to this story.