Aucklanders will be the first in New Zealand to see the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Unity Pitch up close.
The colourful futsal-sized mobile pitch pop-up will be in Te Komititanga Square in the Commercial Bay precinct from today until Sunday 22 January.
There will be a range of fun events and activities to enjoy over the four days – and it’s all free.
The schedule includes an opportunity for fans of all abilities, including those who are visually impaired, to test their football skills, a chance to high five FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 mascot Tazuni as well as a meet and greet with the Football Ferns from 1.30pm tomorrow, Friday 20 January
The Unity Pitch represents a patchwork of the tournament brand colours, reflecting the two unique local cultures of World Cup co-hosts Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia, and the coming together of 32 participating nations.
The activation coincides with the international between the Football Ferns and world champions the USA at Eden Park on Saturday 21 January at 4.05pm and is a hint of what is to come when the global tournament kicks off in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland in July.
More international action comes to Auckland next month for the first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup Play-Off Tournament at North Harbour Stadium. Tickets are on sale now at fifa.com/tickets.
ENDS.
NOTES TO EDITOR
Tickets are now on sale for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Play-Off Tournament from 17-23 February
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP 2023
- The FIFA Women’s World Cup is the world’s premier women’s sporting tournament and is held every four years.
- In June 2020, New Zealand was awarded hosting rights for the tournament alongside Australia, marking the first time the event has been held in the Southern Hemisphere or been jointly hosted by two confederations.
- Independent assessments estimate that FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 will generate 130,000 visitor nights for Auckland and boost the region’s economy by approximately NZD $60 million.
- Additionally, the global reach through international broadcast is expected to be higher than the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 in France which was watched by 1.12billion viewers.
BY THE NUMBERS – THE FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP 2023
- Two – number of host countries.
- Nine – number of matches to be held in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
- Nine – number of host cities in New Zealand and across the Tasman.
- 32 – total number of teams (eight groups of four teams playing round robin, with the top two teams advancing to the ‘round of 16’).
- 32 – total number of tournament days, including seven rest days.
- 64 – total number of matches.
- 130,000 forecast visitor nights for Auckland.
- $60,000,000 – estimated contribution to regional GDP in Auckland.
- 1.12 billion – international broadcast reach of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019.