The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Jordan 2016 Countdown Kicks Off

The one-year countdown to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Jordan 2016, which will be hosted in Jordan from 30 September until 21 October 2016 in Amman, Irbid and Al Zarqa –kicked-off today in Amman, the Jordan capital. During a ceremony to mark the occasion and with the full endorsement of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah, the countdown clock was unveiled and started ticking towards what will be the Kingdom’s biggest sporting event in history and one of the most significant international tournaments to occur in the region.. The event was attended by HRH Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, Salah Sabra, the LOC Chairman, Samar Nassar, the LOC CEO, and Chairman of the Organising Committee for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, Moya Dodd, FIFA Executive Committee co-opted member, the Jordan U-17 national team, several representatives of governmental entities and major private companies, prominent businesspeople, and a host of local media representatives.

In a pre-recorded video, Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah, stressed the importance of embracing such a mega sporting event. Furthermore, Her Majesty indicated that hosting the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup is considered a historic, national achievement and source of pride for all Jordanians, emphasizing everyone’s collaborative responsibility - whether as individuals or institutions - to launching a global and overall successful tournament that reflects a positive image of a hospitable and multicultural Jordan.

The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2016 two first ambassadors were revealed, including media presenter Mohammed Al Wakeel and Jordan national women’s football team player Yasmeen Khair.

Samar Nassar: ”The supportive leadership and guidance towards further empowering Jordanian women of their Majesties King Abdullah II and Queen Rania Al Abdullah is invaluable, The ongoing support of the Jordanian Federation through his president his HRH Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein to the Jordan national women's football team since its founding in 2005, as well as for his pivotal role in enhancing Jordan’s position as a regional pioneer and beacon for the advancement and development of the women's game.

She added, “This solid foundation, which stemmed from the Hashemites’ firm belief in our young girls’ capabilities and achievements, has made us more confident than ever in our role in advancing Jordanian women's football, and in organizing a national global event of which all Jordanians can be proud. Everyone needs to embrace this global event, so as to raise the Jordanian banner in the realms of sports, culture and honorable achievements.”

Moya Dodd expressed the importance for FIFA to play an active role in the legacy for the tournament: “The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Jordan 2016 is a unique opportunity to develop women’s football in Jordan and the wider region. It will leave a positive legacy by inspiring more women and girls to play football and at the same time promoting understanding between cultures. ”

The LOC also addressed the dedicated efforts of the LOC-affiliated Jordanian teams, who have been preparing for the upcoming tournament for the past year. In efforts to achieve the tournament’s vision of creating an ongoing legacy for women’s football and Jordanian football as a whole, sport infrastructure is being in accordance with professional global standards, and high-impact and sustainable partnerships are being mobilized across the public and private sectors.

These efforts will strengthen women’s football in particular, and will improve the capabilities, capacities and expertise of Jordan in the field of football, in addition to stimulating the local community’s contribution to supporting all forms of women's sport.