The fourth FIFA Women's World Cup soccer tournament kicks off in Philadelphia on Saturday in the shadow of WUSA's demise early this week.

The opening ceremony and the first match will be held in Lincoln Financial Field, only days after WUSA ceased operations due to financial losses of some 100 million U.S. dollars.

The tournament, which was originally scheduled to be hosted by China, was moved to the United States because of the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in the Asian country lastspring.

This will be the second time for the United States to stage the event and they will be expected to win the trophy for a third time.

The first match will pitch Nigeria with Asian champions DPR Korea, while the second following the opening ceremony will see 1995 World Cup winners Norway meet France.

In the other two matches on Saturday, Germany will play Canada and Japan take on Argentina. Both matches will be played in Columbus, Ohio.

The United States will begin their title defending battle with Sweden in Washington on Sunday and China play Ghana in Carson, LosAngeles.

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