July 20, (THEWILL) – The ninth edition of the Women’s World Cup kicked off with a vibrant display of New Zealand’s traditional Maori culture on Thursday, even as a shooting near the Norwegian team hotel in Auckland cast a shadow over the event.
The incident resulted in three fatalities and left six others injured. Authorities confirmed that the shooter was among the deceased, and New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Chris Hipkins, assured the public that there was no risk to national security.
In a solemn yet spirited opening ceremony featuring the renowned Haka war dance, New Zealand’s Football Ferns commenced the tournament with a match against Norway at Auckland’s Eden Park. Despite the tragedy, the stadium witnessed a remarkable turnout, likely to surpass previous records for attendance at an international soccer match. In response to the shooting, the authorities bolstered security measures at the venue, offering reassurance to attendees who expressed relief at the heightened police presence.
As THEWILL reported, football’s governing body, FIFA, issued a statement affirming that the incident was isolated and unrelated to the tournament’s operations, confirming that the opening match would proceed as scheduled. Nevertheless, precautionary measures were taken, with a fan park in the city remaining closed on match day. Players from various teams acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, but they remained focused on the competition, determined to represent their countries on the global stage.
Australia, co-host of the tournament and known as the Matildas, will make their debut with a game against the Republic of Ireland at Stadium Australia in Sydney by 11am Nigerian time. The match is expected to draw a sellout crowd of around 70,000 spectators, setting a new attendance record for women’s soccer in the country.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
