After 30 matches played before 567,982 fans in seven communities across the country, and hundreds of millions more watching on television around the globe, the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup has come down to its Final Match this Saturday, July 10, at 12:50 p.m. (PT). The host United States, defending Olympic gold medalists and 1991 Women’s World Cup champions, plays China, the silver medalists in Atlanta and winner of two of its last three games against the Americans. Marla Messing, President and CEO of the WWC Organizing Committee, has announced that the doubleheader, which also features the Third Place matchup of Norway vs. Brazil, is sold out and a crowd of more than 85,000 is expected – a record for a women’s-only sporting event. The Final will be nationally televised on ABC with coverage beginning at 12:30 p.m. The Third Place Match pitting Norway against Brazil kicks off at 10:15 a.m. PDT and will be telecast by ESPN beginning at 10 a.m. Between matches, the Closing Ceremonies will be conducted and feature a performance by singer/actress Jennifer Lopez. The Organizing Committee also announced it had sold its 650,000th ticket to the third world championship of women’s soccer. The attendance for the Quarterfinal doubleheaders in suburban Washington, D.C. and San Jose and Semifinals in Palo Alto and Foxboro was 178,162, for a per date average of 44,541. For the tournament, an average of more than 35,000 have attended Women’s World Cup matches, including over 22,000 for dates not involving the United States. There have been three crowds of more than 65,000 including 78,972 at Giants Stadium on June 19 (a world record for a women’s-only sporting event), a soccer-record audience of 65,080 at Chicago’s Soldier Field on June 24 and 73,123 yesterday in Palo Alto. “With a sellout of the Final, our biggest day is still yet to come,” said Messing, “but I think we can say that the tournament has been a smashing success. This Saturday, the Rose Bowl will be awash with pageantry, music and tens of thousand of World Cup fans who are united in their passion for this event. It will be an occasion to remember for women’s sports, Teams USA and China, and football lovers around the world.” Due to the anticipated large crowd for the Final and Third Place Match, the Organizing Committee has arranged for a convenient shuttle from Parsons Engineering (located at 100 Walnut Avenue at the corner of Fair Oaks Blvd. in downtown Pasadena) to the stadium. Service will begin at 6 a.m. Parking in the Parsons lot costs $4 and includes the shuttle to-and-from the stadium. To reach Parsons off the 134/210 freeways, exit Fair Oaks and head south approximately one-fourth of a mile. The Third Place Match will begin at 10:15 a.m. with the Final kicking off qt 12:50 p.m. The Closing Ceremonies, featuring a live performance by singer/actress Jennifer Lopez, will take place between matches.