EDMONTON - It has been well-documented over the years how Edmonton, which kept laying golden eggs for them over and over again, had been used and abused by the Canadian Soccer Association.

Well, as of today, all is forgiven.

“This is the payoff,” said one highly placed Edmonton official who did behind-the-scenes work with FIFA and the CSA at the London Olympics and the last Worlds in Germany.

“We made out like bandits.”

While the final of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be held in Vancouver, Edmonton’s preference and target was the opening ceremonies and opening game of the 24-team tournament featuring Christine Sinclair and Canada’s Olympic bronze medal team.