Portland’s Loss Is Rose Bowl’s Gain in World Cup

A first-round doubleheader in the Women’s World Cup next June 20 will be moved from Portland, Ore., to the Rose Bowl.

The move, subject to final approval from FIFA, the world governing body for soccer, was necessitated by problems with converting the field in Portland’s Civic Stadium from artificial turf to grass.

The change will not affect Portland’s two other first-round doubleheaders, scheduled for June 23 and June 24, when the grass field should be ready.

“We just weren’t comfortable with the potential risk involved,” said Marla Messing, the president of U.S. Women’s World Cup organizers. “The rainy climate in Portland can present some serious challenges in installing a temporary grass field, as we learned last May when the U.S. men’s team played Kuwait. This solution gives us the confidence that we’ll be able to deliver the kind of pitch that Portland will be proud to show the world.”

The addition of two matches gives the Rose Bowl a total of four games. Prior to the move, the Rose Bowl was scheduled to hold only the third-place match and the final.