Germany produced FIFA's most financially successful men's World Cup in 2006. The German women won this year's World Cup without conceding a goal and also won the 2003 title and the European Championship six times.

"We are very proud and grateful for this distinction to be able after the World Cup of the men in 2006 to already in the year 2011 to be able to organize the Women's World Cup," said Theo Zwanziger, president of the German soccer federation.

"Women's football is a great development opportunity around the world," Zwanzinger added. "The ball finally is also there for the girls and the women."

Canada's bid was based on its successful staging of the under-20 World Cup this summer, which set attendance records for Canadian sports events and FIFA under-20 tournaments.

In its final presentation, Germany listed 11 reasons it should stage the event, but mainly sold itself as "the land of football." The presentation — less polished and more casual than Canada's — included a video showing the career highlights of Birgit Prinz, Germany's star forward. Twice FIFA's player of the year, Prinz is the German captain with nearly 170 caps and more than 100 goals.

The presentation also showed Germany midfielder Fatmire Bajramaj, who was forced to play soccer in secret when she was a girl in Kosovo because of her father's disapproval, but became part of the national team after moving to Germany.

The video showed Bajramaj in a black dress and high heels, juggling the ball with her knees and head, and later performing the same tricks in the national team uniform.

"Being able to play a World Cup at home is a unique experience," Germany coach Silvia Neid said. "We made a very good bid and it shows how professionally we take this World Cup."

Canada had showed "what football can be in a country where so far football was not the sport number one," FIFA president Sepp Blatter said after its presentation. "We appreciate what you've done and we have good hopes for you and what you can do in the future. But we are in a competition and in competition there is always a winner and a loser. So I wish you well."

Peter Montopoli, a senior official for the under-20 World Cup, said about 1.2 million spectators attended the 52-game tournament in Canada.