More than three years after it was first awarded to the United States, the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the third world championship of women’s soccer, will get underway this Saturday, June 19, with matches at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., and Spartan Stadium in San Jose, Calif. With more than 450,000 tickets sold and an expected worldwide television audience of approximately 1 billion viewers in 70 countries, the Women’s World Cup is already the largest women’s-only sporting event in history. With 32 matches over 17 playing dates in seven communities, the tournament is expected to draw more than a half-million spectators, including a crowd of more than 75,000 fans at Giants Stadium for the Opening Match featuring the defending Olympic champion United States against Denmark. The game will be televised live by ABC. In the second half of the doubleheader, South American champion Brazil takes on Mexico. The day gets underway at 2:30 p.m. EDT with Opening Ceremonies featuring performances by superstar recording artists ‘N Sync, B*Witched and Billie. Later that day in San Jose, China, which has defeated the United States in two of their last three meetings, will face off against Sweden, while Japan plays Canada, which features Charmaine Hooper, the Bud Light Most Spectacular Player of the FIFA World Stars Match on February 14. Kickoff at Spartan Stadium is 5 p.m. PDT. The San Francisco Bay/San Jose venue will also host a Quarterfinal doubleheader on June 30 while Giants Stadium will be the site of a second First Round doubleheader on June 26. “The tournament has already been a success in terms of ticket sales, media interest, broadcast coverage and sponsorship support, but now its time to let the players take over,” said Marla Messing, President of the Organizing Committee. “This tournament has reached a level that we could only dream about when we began the Organizing Committee in 1997. Now it is in the hands of 16 talented teams to battle for the most prestigious trophy in soccer.” Competition will also get underway in two other WWC venues on Sunday, June 20, as Foxboro Stadium in suburban Boston will see Norway begin defense of its Women’s World Cup title when it plays Russia. Earlier that day, Oceania champion Australia will meet Ghana. The day’s play gets underway at 1:30 p.m. EDT. In Pasadena, Calif., site of the Women’s World Cup Final on July 10, a First Round doubleheader will pit defending European champion Germany vs. Italy, while African champion Nigeria takes on North Korea. Kickoff of the first match is 4 p.m. PDT. Other WWC venues include Chicago (First Round doubleheaders, June 24 and 26), Portland (First Round doubleheaders June 23 and 24) and Washington D.C. (First Round doubleheaders June 23 and 27; Quarterfinal doubleheader July 1). Tickets for the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup can be purchased by calling (800) WWC-TIKS (800-992-8457).