And with that, I’ll try to catch my breathe (it’s going to be hard, with the Matildas about to kick off their tournament in Sydney minus Sam Kerr). But what an opening match this one was – a classic that will be remember in New Zealand for many a year to come.
Thanks for joining me and Jo. Time to turn your attention to Jonathan Howcroft’s minute-by-minute account of the game in Sydney, here:
And stay tuned for our match report from Eden Park, which will land once Jeff Kassouf has had time to take in all the drama. Bye from me!
Incredible scenes in Auckland. What a result. Not many would have picked that one before this evening, but there you go. Football, bloody hell. New Zealand were good for their win – they fended off Norwegian attacks in the first half before enjoying the better of the second and delivering a knock-out blow through Hannah Wilkinson. Her name will now deservedly enter Eden Park folklore.
For Norway, it couldn’t be a worse start. They were disjointed and didn’t know how to deal with the Ferns’ second half display. Perhaps they will count themselves unlucky that Hansen’s effort struck the bar and didn’t nestle in the roof of the net, but they also benefitted from a slice of good fortune, with Percival missing a chance to seal victory from the penalty spot.
Updated
Full-time: New Zealand 1-0 Norway
90+10 mins: When is this going to end? Now! There it is! All over in Auckland! New Zealand stun Norway to win their first World Cup game!
Updated
90+9 mins: We’re pretty much there now. Tension fills the air at Eden Park. The ball falls into the grateful arms of Esson! She’ll take her time in thumping the ball downfield.
90+8 mins: Chance for Norway! Hegerberg stabs the ball to Reiten, but she can’t apply a finishing touch from close range!
90+7 mins: New Zealand are just looking to run the clock down now. That’s all they have to do. The whistles are already coming from the stands – the crowd want this one to end.
90+6 mins: Meanwhile, over in Sydney, big big news before the other opening night game – Australia’s Sam Kerr will not play against Ireland after having been ruled out with a calf injury. Get the latest with our other live blog:
90+5 mins: Gabi Rennie comes on as New Zealand make another change.
90+4 mins: Still New Zealand hang on.
Updated
90+2 mins: Bjelde has a problem here and will have to be replaced by Anna Josendal. She’s down on the floor, but her teammates can’t wait – they pick her up themselves and run her off the pitch, before dumping on the sideline! No time for niceties at this point!
Updated
90+1 mins: Not quite sure where nine minutes came from.
90 mins: What drama late in the game! And it’s not over yet – nine minutes of injury time to be played!
89 mins: NO! Percival hits the post! Mikalsen was beaten, but the ball strikes the upright! Such are the margins!
Updated
88 mins: What a moment for New Zealand! Percival will have the chance to seal victory for the Football Ferns!
86 mins: Another penalty check! Another handball shout, against Tuva Hansen! Play stalls, and the eyes of a nation are on the referee as she watches her screen. It’s a Bott cross into the box that is stopped by the arm of Hansen. And it’s given! PENALTY TO NEW ZEALAND!
85 mins: The first yellow card of the night is dished out to substitute Haavi. And another change now: goalscorer Wilkinson departs to a tremendous roar from the crowd, what a performance from her. On comes Paige Satchell in her place.
Updated
84 mins: I reckon this is going to be one-way traffic for the final six minutes now. That strike against the bar has really given Norway hope.
83 mins: The corner comes across, but it goes all the way through without any touch from a player. That’s disappointing from Norway, and will give New Zealand a chance to breathe.
82 mins: Corner to Norway now. And all of a sudden, New Zealand’s lead looks rather fragile. Can they hang on?
81 mins: Off the bar! Hansen smacks the woodwork with a superb long-range strike, with Esson well beaten!
Updated
80 mins: Hansen intercepts a Steinmetz ball forward and Norway can come forward now. They’re by no means finished here, by the way.
“What an opening game this has been and the referee really deserves credit for playing her role in making it as good as it is,” Luke Pierce emails in. It’s a good point. The ref has really allowed the game to flow, but also retained control.
77 mins: Percival! Oooh! So close to a second for the Football Ferns! She strikes it sweetly from the edge of the box and it flies just wide of the upright.
75 mins: Into the last quarter of an hour and we’re getting very close to history being made. The crowd attendance is announced: 42,137. That’s a big crowd for New Zealand and sets a record for any football match in the country – men’s or women’s.
Updated
74 mins: Back to the football. Actually, not just yet. Another change first: Manchester United’s Vilde Boe Risa comes on for Norway. She’s one of 108 players at this World Cup who play in England, the TV commentators have just said.
71 mins: “I’m confused by Norway,” writes in Kári Tulinius. “On paper they should be one of the contenders for the title, but their play lacks fluency and is all too predictable for the New Zealand defence. I worry they’ll have another disappointing tournament, like last year’s Euros.” Far from their best performance tonight.
70 mins: A reader email, from friend of the live blog Phil Withall! “It seems pretty much my luck, having got used to missing sporting events due to the time difference meaning I’m asleep when they happen, I’m now in the position where I miss most of the World Cup in Australia/New Zealand due to work commitments.” Sorry to hear that Phil. “Once again the Guardian MBM is my saviour (both footballing and cricketing versions) I thank you.” Glad to be of service Phil.
69 mins: New Zealand make their first change: Claudia Bunge of Melbourne Victory comes on to replace the popular Stott.
66 mins: Hassett now heads off on another forward run. Nothing comes of it but New Zealand really are impressive going forward. Haavi tries to make a difference for Norway again, but her cross-shot from the Norway left bounces on top of the Football Ferns net.
Updated
64 mins: Down the other end, and some brief respite for Norway as Haavi hammers an effort goalwards, but it never reaches its intended target as Percival bravely puts her body on the line.
63 mins: Still New Zealand press forward. This time Bott has a shooting chance, but her standing leg slides on the turf and her shot bounces harmlessly wide. She allows herself a rueful grin.
Updated
62 mins: Here come New Zealand again, Hand goes over but the ball finds Riley, who curls a beauty that seems destined to hit the back of the net until Mikelsen dives across and tips over the bar for a corner!
61 mins: Wilkinson fires off a shot, a bit speculative this time, and it’s wide of Mikalsen’s goal.
60 mins: An hour gone, and New Zealand’s Football Ferns lead, against all-pre-match wisdom. Not only that, but they’ve looked good for their lead. Wilkinson up front in particular is causing problems.
59 mins: Oh dear! A great opportunity falls Maanum’s way, but she can’t capitalise! A stabbed effort from in front of goal goes wide, and a great chance is spurned.
Updated
57 mins: A bit more detail below on goalscorer and current Golden Boot leader Hannah Wilkinson.
56 mins: Here’s a first change for Norway, who really have to do something if they are to turn this tide. Off goes Blakstad, on comes Emilie Haavi of Roma.
Updated
55 mins: Hand again gets past Harviken, who’s under the cosh at the moment. The Fern hits the deck in the box and the ball runs out of play. No penalty though, and Norway breathe a sigh of relief.
54 mins: The ball does hit Harviken’s arm, but only after it deflects up off her leg, so no penalty. That could have been disastrous for Norway! Play continues, still 1-0 to New Zealand.
53 mins: Hang on, what have we got here? Looks like a check for a penalty! There’s a bit of confusion, but yes, there’s some consultation for a penalty – a possible hand ball in the Norway box!
Updated
52 mins: Wilkinson is proving a handful for the Norway defence and it’s all New Zealand at the moment!
50 mins: Still New Zealand attack. Bott sends over a deep cross after a corner is played all the way back to near the halfway line. Riley gets the ball and again takes on her marker… beats her marker again, but again runs out of turf and the ball goes behind for a goal kick.
49 mins: Hannah Wilkinson scores first goal of this World Cup and what a goal it is, on a day of such emotion in Auckland. New Zealand are on track to win their first ever game at a World Cup. Norway, meanwhile are shellshocked.
Updated
Goal! New Zealand 1-0 Norway (Wilkinson 48)
48 mins: Incredible! What a start to the second half! New Zealand take the lead after a Wilkinson sends Eden Park into delerium! Hand breaks away down the right hand side and her cross is inch perfect for Wilkinson who just has to tap home!
Updated
Second half under way
46 mins: It’ll be interesting to see how long Norway keep with the current line-up before making any changes. We’re back under way. No changes for either side to tell you about at the break.
Well, that didn’t go quite according to plan for Norway, with New Zealand belying their underdog status with a terrific first-half performance of defensive vigour and no little attacking clout. Norway, of course, remain dangerous going forward, but a few moments of defensive uncertainty will be of concern. An intriguing second half awaits. Stick with us.
Half-time: New Zealand 0-0 Norway
45+1 mins: Nothing comes of it, and that will be that for the first half.
Updated
45 mins: Wilkinson muscles her way through the Norwegian defence, until a perfectly-timed tackle from Bjelde prevents her from getting a shot away. Still, a corner to New Zealand!
Updated
44 mins: It’s all New Zealand at the moment. Norway are struggling to get the ball clear as the first half draws to a close.
43 mins: Still New Zealand press on the front foot. Reilly does really well to keep the ball alive down near the corner flag, she lays it back to Bott who delivers the ball into the box with her left foot. It’s decent, but just slightly overhit this time.
41 mins: Corner to New Zealand now… Percival pings it across but it’s easily cleared by a Norway head.
39 mins: Here come New Zealand. Wilkinson plays it wide to Reilly, but her foray forward is ended by a physical challenge that the ref deems fair (the majority of the crowd don’t agree, perhaps unsurprisingly).
Updated
37 mins: Bott and Hansen collide, but it’s a fair shoulder charge from the Norway player, and it’ll be a Norway throw.
35 mins: Oh! best chance of the game! Graham-Hansen turns on the after-burners down the right before playing the ball inside to Hegerberg, but Stott is there to make a crucial block!
34 mins: New Zealand have done very well so far; they’ve defended resolutely but also enjoyed moments of their own going forward. And the Norway defence has, at times, failed to convince.
Updated
32 mins: From the resulting free-kick, Bowen delivers the ball towards Wilkinson at the back stick. She’s unmarked but her header back across the face of goal is too close to Mikalsen and the keeper claims comfortably.
31 mins: Blakstad is pulled up for another Norwegian foul and she’s given what seems like a final warning from the referee. A card is likely the next time she steps out of line.
Updated
30 mins: Riley does well on the New Zealand right, as she dances past Engen, who is caught a bit flat-footed. But she ends up running the ball out of play. Shame, as that was a lovely bit of skill.
28 mins: More neat passing from Norway… it ends up with Blakstad on the left, and after a one-two off the unwitting Riley, she sends over a cross. It’s easy enough for Esson in the New Zealand goal to claim though.
27 mins: Oh that’s nice from Norway… a neat exchange of passes and headers involving four players. Nice, but doesn’t get them anywhere.
Updated
26 mins: Just over halfway through the first half and it’s still goalless. No real clear-cut chances to speak of, and New Zealand have held their own so far against a much more fancied opponent.
24 mins: What a run by Steinmetz! She brings the ball out of the back and as things open up for her, she just keeps on going, and going, until she overruns it slightly and the move breaks down. The crowd respond!
22 mins: The referee has a word with Guro Reiten, after the Chelsea star is pulled up for a third Norwegian foul in quick succession. A sign of a bit of frustration creeping in?
Updated
20 mins: They’re praising CJ Bott on the telly and rightly so. The Leicester City defender has been heavily involved at right-back so far, and not much has got past her.
19 mins: Great play now from Blakstad, who crosses towards Hegerberg. The former Ballon d’Or winner nods down with precision to Maanum, but she skies over the bar! Well worked, and unlucky not to open the scoring there.
18 mins: Norway manage to get clear eventually and Graham-Hansen wins a corner, from which Hegerberg rises high but can’t direct the ball goalwards.
17 mins: Nothing comes of it for New Zealand, but they keep the ball in the Norway half and Bott’s eventual ball into the box causes more consternation. It nearly falls kindly for Hassett as the Norwegian defence dithers again!
16 mins: Bowen sends over a free-kick to the far post… Blakstad reckons she hasn’t touched it, but the ball runs out for a corner.
Updated
15 mins: A word on the crowd – it’s difficult to tell for sure from the TV pictures, but it certainly looks like a decent-sized crowd at Eden Park.
Updated
14 mins: Here come Norway, a long ball punted forward, but that’s not going to work. It bounces all the way through to Esson in the Football Ferns goal.
12 mins: Seeing that Hegerberg is in the action, why not take a look at her player profile?
11 mins: It opens up for Hassett after a lovely ball through from Stott, but her shot on goal is well blocked by Harviken!
10 mins: Reilly wins a free-kick now after a muscular challenge from Hegerberg (who is heavily involved at the moment, as you would expect her to be).
8 mins: This game is being played at a hectic pace so far. New Zealand, searching for their first World Cup win of course, are not overawed by the occasion so far and they’re giving Norway as good as they’ve got going forward to this point.
Updated
7 mins: Moments later Hegerberg gives another indication of her immense talent with an acrobatic bicycle kick. She mis-times it this time, but 10 out of 10 for vision.
6 mins: Back down to the other end, and Hegerberg hares off on a run of her own down the left-hand side again. Her ball into the box finds… no one. There isn’t a single white shirt there and the move breaks down.
5 mins: Ohh, but what’s this! Wilkinson storms clear down the inside right channel… she just takes one touch too many and with the angle too tight, she can’t get a shot off that will test Mikalsen in the Norway goal. The 2015 champions make a hash of clearing their lines though, and there’s a moment of panic before they do eventually get it clear!
4 mins: New Zealand are struggling to get out of their own half at this point though. Norway are pressing high when not in possession.
Updated
3 mins: Hegerberg on the Norway left now is held up, but the visitors retain possession and end it winning a throw. Still Norway press down the left-hand side. Eventually the ball is put out and it’ll be a throw for the Football Ferns, to be taken by CJ Bott.
2 mins: Frida Maanum tries a nifty little flick early on, but it doesn’t come off this time, as Norway’s attacking intent is put on show early on.
First half under way
1 min: New Zealand get us going!
Updated
So, here we go then. Years of waiting have come to this point. The pre-match is finally done, the teams are ready, the ref has her whistle in her mouth… strap yourselves in for a month of football. And the Women’s World Cup in this year of 2023 is under way!
Nearly there. But now time for a minute’s silence in memory of the two people who lost their lives earlier this morning in Auckland city centre.
Time for a quick team picture for the Football Ferns before a toss of the coin and an exchange of pennants in the centre circle. New Zealand are in all black, Norway in all white. The VAR room is all set – don’t forget we have that video technology available this tournament.
Updated
Eden Park looks sensational from an aerial shot with the lights on, the teams on the pitch, huge flags next to them. We’re getting through the anthems. Norway first, sang lustily by their players. New Zealand follow, plenty of smiles on the faces of their players. Prime minister Chris Hipkins is in the crowd.
Updated
Thanks Jo. Brilliant stuff, teeing this all up over the past couple of hours. It may have been brief, by Olympic standards at least, but that was a decent opening ceremony in my opinion. Poignant given today’s news, but also a celebration of this event, as it should be. Just 10 minutes to go to the big kick-off. The World Cup trophy is making its entrance onto the pitch. It takes its place on a pink plinth, and will be followed by the teams shortly.
The briefest of opening ceremonies!
On that note I will hand over to Mike Hytner who will take you through this opening game between New Zealand and Norway minute by minute.
Thanks for starting the Women’s World Cup with me.
Updated
It’s anthem time! Mallrat and Benee are getting the crowd pumped up with their official song Do It Again.
Updated
There’s a small group of dancers for each country in the tournament, and we’re getting a bit of a montage each team’s star players.
Opening ceremony starts
The players have retreated back into their rooms and the lights go down at Eden Park.
Māori and First Nations dancers and singers take to the centre of the pitch.
The @FIFAWWC 2023 opening ceremony underway here at Eden Park.
— James Kitching (@jrvkfootball) July 20, 2023
A proud moment for so many people!
Congrats @SarBareman @saraboothNI and everyone involved.#WWC2023 #BeyondGreatness pic.twitter.com/AZN2QGP2uq
Updated
The stands are filling, faces are painted, signs are written. You love to see it!
Suzy Wrack spoke to Norway’s Ada Hegeberg about the battle female footballers face and her hopes for the team after their Euros 202 flop.
Norway XI
23 Aurora Mikalsen
4 Tuva Hansen
6 Maren Mjelde
13 Thea Bjelde
16 Mathilde Harviken
7 Ingrid Engen
11 Guro Reiten
18 Frida Maanum
10 Caroline Hansen
14 Ada Hegerberg
17 Julie Blakstad
Dagens 11 utvalgte til turneringens første kamp 💥#sterkeresammen pic.twitter.com/Q5i0Net652
— Fotballandslaget (@nff_landslag) July 20, 2023
New Zealand XI
Teams are live! What do you think of this lineup?
21 Victoria Esson
4 CJ Bott
7 Ali Riley (C)
13 Rebekah Stott
14 Katie Bowen
2 Ria Percival
6 Malia Steinmetz
12 Betsy Hassett
16 Jacqui Hand
17 Hannah Wilkinson
20 Indiah-Paige Riley
Here is how we start for our first @FIFAWWC game at Eden Park in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland vs Norway
— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) July 20, 2023
🇳🇿🇳🇴#NZL #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/1uy0CZxgXT
Meanwhile, in Australia …
My colleagues are reporting buses are packed, traffic is backed up and fans are already starting to buzz around Stadium Australia.
Four hours until kickoff and express trains from Central have just begun. Glorious at Olympic Park and the bars are starting to fill. Spoke to an Irish couple who thought their team would win. Totally sober, they said. pic.twitter.com/ry4sGXbNdc
— Jack Snape (@jacksongs) July 20, 2023
New Zealand team guide
The coach, the star, the rising star, their World Cup hopes.
Here is everything you need to know about the Football Ferns.
They look like they are having fun already!
The New Zealand All Blacks have a message for the Football Ferns ahead of their match!
Wishing the Football Ferns all the very best for their opening match tonight! Good luck team, we’ll be supporting you all the way 🇳🇿 🖤 pic.twitter.com/vmdf1S7n4g
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) July 20, 2023
With the biggest Women’s World Cup due to start in under an hour, it’s worth remembering where everything started for this tournament. It hasn’t been the smoothest road, but there have been some incredible moments in its relatively short history.
Look no further than David Squires’ extremely educational cartoon on the matter.
New Zealand may have the home advantage but you can be sure Norway fans will be out in force too.
Norway team guide
I’ll update you with the starting XI when it comes through. In the meantime do take a look at our extensive team guides.
Last year’s humiliating Euros exit hasn’t dampened expectations for a team who look more solid under new coach Hege Riise
Complete player guide
This interactive guide to all 736 players in the tournament is simply phenomenal. Details on every player have been contributed by a global network of experts.
Get to know every single squad member at the tournament.
The Football Ferns have arrived at Eden Park and have hit the pitch to warm up.
The Ferns are in the building 🏟️🌿#NZL #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/JNyzFiYzQo
— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) July 20, 2023
If, unlike me, you are calm and composed enough to focus on anything other than these two opening games … maybe have a go at this quiz:
ONE HOUR TO GO!
We inch closer to kick off. Can New Zealand get their first World Cup win? Fans of the Football Ferns are making their way into Eden Park.
Indigenous cultures are at the forefront of this Women’s World Cup. You will have noticed every host city has dual names – one being the English placename and the other in the language of the traditional owners of the land the city sits on.
The game in New Zealand tonight is in Auckland / Tāmaki Makaurau, and if you’re lucky enough to be at Eden Park you may be able to get your hands on a poi.
this is sick. everyone at the eden park #FIFAWWC opener tonight is getting their own poi with a qr code explaining it, mātaurangi māori & more. kiwi values on display! how good. pic.twitter.com/3NpG8PBnDM
— Ben McKay (@benmackey) July 20, 2023
Want to see the Matildas? Get in quick …
Thoughts and emotion. Plenty of them.
— Ann Odong 🐨🇺🇬 (@AnnOdong) July 20, 2023
Enjoy the moment all of you.
And to help with it, I have x3 double passes to the game tonight.
Just DM with 25 words on what it means and I will give to the three best answers after 4.05 pm AEST. pic.twitter.com/lTGAEfxn7B
While we’re getting ready for the first whistle, let me introduce you to some of the Guardian team who are covering the World Cup.
A few I have mentioned already: Suzy Wrack is bringing you all things England. She has been travelling with the Lionesses to their pre-tournament camp and home base, and will be on the ground in Brisbane when they play their opening game against Haiti on 22 July. You can find her on Twitter @SuzyWrack.
Women’s football writer and founder of the The Equalizer, Jeff Kassouf, is in New Zealand following the USWNT for the Guardian. He has written this thorough preview on the team chasing an unprecedented third consecutive World Cup trophy. Follow @JeffKassouf on Twitter for updates from New Zealand.
After a heavy morning in Auckland, there is soccer tonight. The World Cup starts in a few hours.
— Jeff Kassouf (@JeffKassouf) July 20, 2023
New Zealand vs. Norway
Australia vs. Ireland
There probably isn't enough time in the day to read all the @guardian_sport coverage, but you could try 😀https://t.co/8lRcC5RZHL
Lapping up the home soil atmosphere in Australia is Kieran Pender with the latest from the Matildas camp as well as their games in Group B.
As the tournament rolls on we will have more coverage from Jonathan Liew, former Matilda Joey Peters, former England international Anita Asante and more.
OK first prediction is in from Kurt who is predicting USA over Brazil in the final.
“USWNT all the way! Despite injuries and inexperience the USWNT will win their third Fifa Women’s World Cup. They’ll win group E, defeat Sweden (managed by former USWNT manager Pia Sundhage) in the round of 16, kick Italy in their boot in the quarter-final, fish fry Norway in the semi-final & beat up Brazil in the final.”
Love the confidence Kurt!
Our writers have offered their views on how the tournament will pan out. There’s a suspiciously high number of votes for Australia and Sam Kerr. Can the co-hosts capitalise on their home advantage and run of excellent form?
Jonathan Liew and Suzy Wrack say yes … so that’s that then I guess.
Updated
It’s just after 6.30am in the UK (I think) and I’ve got a message from Melanie in Jersey.
“Football at breakfast, what’s not to like!
“Really looking to seeing how England cope with some key players missing, but there is a depth in the squad that offers lots of choice. I think the Lionesses can go all the way!”
Thanks for getting in touch Melanie!
Updated
Tickets might have been slow to shift at first in New Zealand but it seems fans are ready to get behind the Football Ferns now.
#Fifa store is very popular at #EdenPark! @nzherald #NZLvNOR pic.twitter.com/ZOGqHFvF92
— Bonnie Jansen (@bonniejan24) July 20, 2023
Hit me with your predictions! How do you think the 2023 Women’s World Cup will unfold?
Some Guardian readers have given their verdict on how the teams will go.
What do you think? Can the USA make it three in a row? Will veterans Christine Sinclair and Marta take Canada and Brazil all the way? Who are the dark horses?
The view from Australia is quite different. The national women’s team, the Matildas, are a Top 10 team and one of the most loved sport teams in the country.
Unless Fifa release some last minute tickets to the three Matildas group games you will be lucky to find one – they were snapped up fast.
After couple of hours after New Zealand’s opening game in Auckland today Australia will face the Republic of Ireland in front of about 75,000 fans – a record home crowd for them.
As Guardian Australia’s sport reporter, Jack Snape, writes, international sporting events are very much part of the culture. Plus, they have Sam Kerr.
Our Matildas correspondent Kieran Pender is on his way to Stadium Australia for the second game of the night.
4.5 hours to kick off and bus to Stadium Australia is already jammed. Tonight is going to be HUGE!
— Kieran Pender (@KieranPender) July 20, 2023
Looks like the atmosphere is building in Auckland but the word on the ground was New Zealand was moving a bit slower to catch up with the hype.
Ticket sales were lagging behind those across the ditch in Australia, although it looks like the opening game between the Football Ferns and Norway is close to sold out!
Gabi Lardies spoke to some of the key operators in women’s football in the country about the lead-up.
It’s still early but fans are starting to make their way into Eden Park.
Opening ceremony
There’s a few things to get through before the football. Fun things, of course!
The party starts in Auckland / Tāmaki Makaurau at New Zealand’s national stadium, Eden Park. Fifa have been pretty tight-lipped on what exactly we can expect before this opening game, but here is what we know so far.
The headline act will be a performance by Mallrat and BENEE of their official Women’s World Cup anthem: Do It Again.
Thoughts on the song?
“Do It Again”, the Official Song of the #FIFAWWC by @BENEEMUSIC ft. @lilmallrat is here! 🤩🎶
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) June 28, 2023
Eden Park is most often home to rugby and tonight the New Zealand Māori All Blacks will perform a haka.
There will also be various pieces from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and a poem about the power of football read by a group of children.
I’ll bring you everything from Eden Park as it happens.
It seems the Matildas have their preparation for their opener against Ireland sorted. I’m not sure there’s any better way to quiet the nerves than pat a puppy.
A good luck doggo greeting @TheMatildas on their pre-game walk 🐶 pic.twitter.com/mZuvu9BlEU
— 7Sport (@7Sport) July 20, 2023
Let me set the scene a bit more.
This tournament will be the biggest Women’s World Cup ever. Ticket sales are on their way to 1.4m and have already surpassed the previous record. Fifa branding is dripping from inanimate objects in every host city.
The Guardian’s football writer Suzy Wrack has flown in from the UK to follow the progress of England’s Lionesses, and she’s also taken the pre-tournament temperature.
I think it’s fair to say football fever has taken hold.
Preamble
Hello and welcome!
Are we ready for this? The Women’s World Cup is finally here. It’s been just over three years since Australia and New Zealand won the bid to host the 2023 tournament, and tonight both nations will be tested on and off the pitch.
My name is Jo Khan and I am very excited to be kicking off our live coverage today. If you had described this moment to young Jo when she laced up her first pair of football boots more than two decades ago she just wouldn’t have believed you. A record-breaking Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand? No way. But here we are!
Festivities are one thing, but the opening day took a sombre turn this morning with news of a fatal shooting in Auckland / Tāmaki Makaurau, where things will soon kick-off.
As my colleague Jeff Kassouf said, it’s a reminder that everything is relative. Millions of people around the world may be gearing up to celebrate women’s football today, but this morning three people died and six were injured not far from where that celebration will begin.
Today in Auckland is another reminder of everything being relative. We're all here, all in on soccer, a sport we love. We travel the world to play it and discuss it. But lives were lost today, right there where most of us have been walking around.
— Jeff Kassouf (@JeffKassouf) July 19, 2023
New Zealand and Fifa officials confirmed the opening game will go ahead as planned, and players from the teams based around the area (the US, the Philippines, Italy, Norway and New Zealand) expressed sadness but assured fans they were OK.
And so, it begins. In two hours’ time the Football Ferns will play Norway at Eden Park.
Please get in touch and tell me how you are kicking off your World Cup spectating. Where are you tuning in from? What’s the vibe at the stadium, at the pub, in your living room? Send me an email or tweet @_jokhan.
