
Defending champions Japan are among four previous winners who will find out later on Saturday how tough their group will be at next year's Women's World Cup when the draw takes place in Ottawa.
Despite their nickname Nadeshiko -- a flower symbolising grace and beauty -- the Japanese have earned a reputation as giant-killers and are among the top seeds.
The women's tournament has taken place every four years since the inaugural event in China in 1991 and for the first time there will be 24 and not 16 teams in the draw.
FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke will officiate at the ceremony at the Canadian Museum of History.
Teams will be drawn into six groups of four, with first-round matches to be played in Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal and Moncton.
The top two in each group will qualify for the last 16 along with four best third place finishers.
The opening match will take place in Edmonton on June 6 with the final set for Vancouver on July 5.
Despite controversy over the plastic pitches for the event Japanese head coach Norio Sasaki insisted they can adapt after beating Canada in a friendly on the surface in Edmonton in October.
"If we get used to it, I know we can handle it well," Sasaki said.
"The stadium is wonderful, and it's very big. I think for the players it was very encouraging and a good opportunity for us to play here."
Japan lifted the trophy with a dramatic win over the United States in Germany four years ago, delivering a boost to their country months after a deadly earthquake and tsunami.
But the United States gained revenge by winning the Olympic gold ahead of Japan, with Canada taking bronze and France finishing fourth.
The USA are FIFA's top ranked team ahead of fellow two-time winners Germany, and Japan. Norway, the other former champion, are ranked ninth.
Japan are in Pot 1 along with the United States, Germany, Brazil, Canada and France.
In pot 3 are former powerhouse China, while pot 4 is full of dangerous teams including fifth-ranked Sweden, European finalists Norway and a fast-improving Spain.
"We're calm ahead of the draw. We'll see. We already know that we're going to come up against some great teams," France coach Philippe Bergeroo told AFP.
"We've done the rounds, we've tried to play all types of football. The only football we don't know that well is African. But after the draw myself and my staff will travel to see how our rivals play."
"A team that worries me is Spain," he continued.
"They came out on top of their pool. We asked to play them but it wasn't possible, they play few friendlies, they work by themselves and no-one really knows what's goes on. They're in the process of preparing something."
France have lined up friendlies in 2015 against the United States and England as well as a tournament in Portugal in March.
Pot 1: Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, United States
Pot 2: Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Costa Rica, Mexico, New Zealand
Pot 3: Australia, China, South Korea, Thailand, Colombia, Ecuador
Pot 4: England, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
Source: AFP
GMT 22:27 2018 Thursday ,13 December
Russian swimmer Prigoda takes gold in China with new WR in men’s 200m breaststrokeGMT 11:54 2018 Tuesday ,11 December
Ajax and Bayern in tasty Champions League duel for first placeGMT 07:42 2018 Thursday ,15 November
After IOC pressure, Spain lets Kosovo athletes compete under flagGMT 14:21 2018 Tuesday ,30 October
US Mayweather to fight Russia’s Nurmagomedov strictly under UFC rulesGMT 09:23 2018 Thursday ,11 October
UEFA abstains from broadcasting games in Israeli settlementsGMT 12:32 2018 Friday ,28 September
Germany ready to learn from Russia’s experience of hosting 2018 FIFA World CupGMT 11:24 2018 Wednesday ,26 September
Malaysian football latest newsGMT 14:48 2018 Sunday ,09 September
Spain Team Coached by Luis Enrique Looks StrongMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor