With just under 50 days until the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup kicks off, we are commencing a weekly look at the news from the tournament and its other 23 nations.

Our first wrap looks at all the big news, and there has been plenty, from the 100 days mark onwards.

FIFA and Canada 2015 news

A number of technology upgrades and innovations will be utilised during Canada 2015.

Goal Line Technology (GLT)

For the first time the Women's World Cup will see the implementation of GLT with Hawk-Eye announced as the official GLT provider.

GLT has been used at other FIFA tournaments including the men's World Cup, Confederations Cup and Club World Championships.

The Hawk-Eye camera based system will see 7 cameras installed as high as possible around the goal.

The system boasts its ability to be "millimetre-accurate" with a goal indicated "one second" after it is scored by a vibration and visual signal on the referee's watch.

Increased broadcast production

FIFA has announced that Canada 2015 will be its "most advanced broadcast production for a women’s football tournament".

While 16 cameras per match were used at Germany 2011, the 2015 tournament will see a minimum of 20 state of the art cameras used per match with 22 cameras for the Opening Match, Semi-Finals and the Final Match.

FIFA and Japanese broadcaster NHK will also collaborate to produce 10 matches (including the final) in ultra-high definition 8K visuals.

Hopefully this means some slo-mo. Let's face it nothing is cooler than slo-mo!

SBS' The World Game will be broadcasting the Women's World Cup in Australia on SBS1 and live online.

New turf 

With the Turf War over, Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium (host of the World Cup final), is set to get new turf laid at the cost of $1.327 million.

The German-made synthetic turf (called Liga Turf RS+CoolPlus World Cup Edition 260 W ACS 90 Bionic Fibre Infill) meets FIFA’s 2-star standard for turf. The installation of the new turf will begin May 17.

Meanwhile Edmonton is also getting new turf costing $650,000 (shared by the City of Edmonton and Canadian Soccer Association). Installation has commenced and will be completed by the end of May.

Pioneers in Profile

As a history nerd this makes me smile. FIFA is set to profile some of the pioneers of the women's game including Sun Wen, Mia Hamm, Michelle Akers, Sissi, Hanna Ljungberg, Hege Riise and Doris Fitschen.

The importance of acknowledging and celebrating those players that paved the way cannot be overstated.

Women's football has advanced to where it is (although there is still a way to go) due to their sacrifice and fight and it's great to see FIFA re-introducing them to a new generation of fans.

Referees appointed

The 22 referees, 44 assistant referees and 7 support referees have been announced for Canada 2015 with Australia's own Sarah Ho and Allyson Flynn included as assistant referees.

Unfortunately there were no referees to join Tammy Ogston and Jacqui Melksham as referees at the World Cup.

Best Young Player award

The criteria for the "Best Young Player" award was announced with the award restricted to players who are born on or after 1 January 1995.

Caitlin Foord is the current holder of the award after breaking through at Germany 2011 and, from the current Australian squad, it appears only Alanna Kennedy, Brianna Davey and Larissa Crummer would be eligible to join her.

Collectibles

There will be plenty of souvenirs and collectibles available for this tournament.

The Royal Canadian Mint launched Canada 2015 collector coins with one $20 fine silver coin, six $10 fine silver coins and three $75 pure gold coins of various designs.

After some angst among the fans, Panini settled minds by confirming (rights permitting) that they will be once again producing a Women's World Cup sticker album.

https://twitter.com/pjwatwoodbury/status/577934960373415937

The album and stickers will be available to purchase in some countries and via their website.

A word of warning though, they are extremely addictive and it might be wise to have a "sticker budget". Not that it helped during Germany 2011!

Fantasy Football

While women's footballers are still not available on the EA Sports FIFA games (come on its 2015!) there will be a fantasy World Cup game available.

Mondogoal, a football fantasy platform, told Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl that a Women’s World Cup daily game will available; the first they have provided for women's sport.

The game sees participants select a team of 11 players according to the matches taking place on that particular Match Day.

Those players then earn points according to on field events; much like the NWSL Fantasy League.

United States

In nation news, the United States became the first country to announce their squad with Jill Ellis last week naming the USA's 23 six weeks before the May 17 deadline.

https://twitter.com/ussoccer_wnt/status/588085827282067456

Considering the core 25 players participating in the US camps since the February, there were few surprises in the 23.

Defenders Rachel Van Hollebeke and Crystal Dunn were the final two cut. At 22, Morgan Brian is the youngest player while captain Christie Rampone (39), heading for her 5th World Cup, is the oldest on the roster.

Japan

Japan coach Norio Sasaki believes that the World Champions are even better than they were in 2011.

For many Nadeshiko were surprise winners of Germany 2011 and since then have gone on to become one of the entrenched women's football powers at all age groups.

In an interview with FIFA, Sasaki stated that the team was better prepared for Canada 2015.

"The players gained some excellent experience during the 2011 World Cup and the 2012 London Olympics, and I believe that individually they have really developed over the past four years. I think I have a better team now than I did in 2011."

England

Team England and their partners have been increasing their social media presence in the past year.

One of those partners, Continental Tyres, has produced a great series of player profiles cataloguing the challenges of being a female footballer and the hurdles they have had to overcome.

Notts County forward Jess Clarke was the first speaking about growing up in a single parent household (her Mum) and the struggle to get to games and training.

For lawyer and Chelsea forward Eniola Aluko it was about accepting and owning her talent as a footballer, even when she was dismissed.