The 2015 Women's World Cup will not be played on grass.
Despite a high profile campaign by some of the world's top female footballers, there will be no change to plans to play the World Cup entirely on artificial surfaces, according to a well placed source in Canadian soccer.
The CSA has instructed staff not to comment on the issue and has been told by FIFA that there is no chance they will be required to install grass at this late time.
The source stressed that FIFA has required that all games be played on Star 2 artificial surfaces, which will require an upgrade to several of the existing facilities. That requirement has always been in place and is not in reaction to the threat of legal action made by the players.
Since the threat was made public last week, the players have engaged in a public relations campaign to gain favour for their position. Articles have appeared in several high profile publications.
In a New York Times piece Abby Wambach said that she will play less aggressively at the World Cup than she would otherwise because of a fear of injury. She specifically indicated that she would not make a diving header like the one Robin van Persie made in Brazil.
Wambach currently plays professionally for the Western New York Flash of the NWSL. They play their home games at Rochester's Sahlen's Stadium, which has a FieldTurf surface.
Basketball superstar Kobe Bryant also came to the women's side, posting an undated photo of US international Sydney Leroux's legs after a game played on artificial surface.
CSN determined that the photo was originally posted on April 14, 2013 on Leroux's Twitter page. It was after a NWSL game played at Dilboy Stadium near Boston. Dilboy Stadium has Shaw Sports Turf.