FIFA Women's World Cup artificial turf revealed in Vancouver

FIFA officials revealed the new artificial turf for the2015 Women's World Cup at B.C. Place in VancouverWednesday, after months of controversy over the playing surfaceamongst soccer players around the world.

• FULL COVERAGEFIFA Women's World Cup

More than 60 elite female players sued soccer's governing body in October last year,after it decided to use artificial turf in the tournament.

The players allegedgender discrimination, because the Men's World Cup is played only on real grass, but the case was dropped in January.

• 2015 World Cup: Women drop artificial turf complaint
• 2015 Women's World Cup will be played on turf, FIFA says
• Gender discrimination claims dog FIFApromotional efforts

Neil McPhee, who works for theFIFA-accreditedtesting institute for the Women's World Cup, says the artificial turf has advantages for consistency across games.

"Every natural pitch is different," he said."There's more consistency with artificial turf because...it's tested very stringently."

The $1.3 millionturf was paid for by the Canadian Soccer Association, Rugby Canada, andPavCo, the corporation that operates BCPlace Stadium.

A stadium in Moncton, N.B. hasalso spent $1.5 million converting their real grass to artificial turffor the Women's World Cup,so all the matches could be played on similarsurfaces.

"It's a change, it's different, but it's part of the game," saidDon Hardman of the FIFA National Organizing Committee.

"Technologyadvances in many aspects of life, andwe're excited that we're part of the first ones to have it."

The Women's World Cup kicks off this Saturday, June 6 in Edmonton, Alta. BC Place will hold its first tournament match on June 8, hosting teams from Cameroon and Ecuador.

Matches will be held across the country in Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal, and Moncton.

The final match will be held on July 5 in Vancouver.