FIFA and the Japan Football Association (JFA) are delighted to announce that the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2012 will be hosted by Japan. Japan was proposed as the new host for the competition at the FIFA Executive Committee meeting held in Tokyo on 16 and 17 December after it was decided that Uzbekistan could no longer organise the tournament due to a number of logistical and technical issues. Japan was formally confirmed as the 2012 host today after FIFA officially received the government documents which are a requirement for hosting the tournament. JFA President Junji Ogura said: “It is with extreme pleasure that we can formally confirm Japan will host the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. It is a big challenge but also an excellent opportunity to maintain the momentum and interest in the country following the world title the Nadeshiko won in Germany last summer. Japan is definitely a country where women’s football is on an upward curve. Holding two FIFA competitions in Japan in 2012, we, together with FIFA, would like to encourage the people affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.” FIFA’s Secretary General, Jerome Valcke, added: “Japan has a proven track record in hosting FIFA competitions and we are fully confident that the JFA will successfully organise its first-ever FIFA women’s competition.” The FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011™ set a new benchmark for women’s football. At the FIFA Ballon d’Or gala last month, Norio Sasaki was presented with the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women’s Football award whilst Homare Sawa added to her growing list of honours, being crowned the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year 2011. The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup will be played from 19 August to 8 September 2012. Ten of the final 16 teams have already qualified: Germany, Italy, Norway and Switzerland (UEFA); Japan (host), Korea DPR, China and Korea Republic (AFC); and Argentina and Brazil (CONMEBOL). Germany are the reigning champions, having defeated Nigeria 2-0 in the 2010 final.