Women’s World Cup LIVE updates: New Zealand v Norway, Matildas v Ireland
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Key posts
- World Cup goes on as Norway swept up in NZ shooting
- Your view: Can NZ shock Norway?
- Welcome
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Meet the Matildas
A minute silence in Sydney and Auckland for victims
FIFA are reassuring teams and fans that there are no security risks ahead of kick-off for tonight’s match in Auckland.
“We appreciate the collaboration with the New Zealand authorities from the earliest moment of this tragic incident,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
“We have been involved in ongoing communication from the outset, and we have also received the necessary reassurances from Minister for Sport and Recreation Grant Robertson in relation to the safety and security of the participating teams and fans at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand.
“FIFA extends its deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims who lost their lives, and our thoughts and prayers remain with those who have been injured in this tragic incident.”
There will be a minute of silence before both the opening game in New Zealand and Australia’s match in Sydney to pay respects to the victims and their families.
World Cup goes on as Norway swept up in NZ shooting
Teams are safe and the Women’s World Cup will continue as planned despite a fatal shooting in Auckland’s city centre on the opening morning of the tournament.
New Zealand’s Sport Minister Grant Robertson said discussions with officials from the sport’s governing body FIFA, including president Gianni Infantino, had confirmed the opening match would kick off as planned on Thursday evening.
Armed New Zealand police officers stand outside a hotel housing a team from the FIFA Women’s World Cup in the central business district.Credit: AP
Norway, who will face co-hosts New Zealand in the tournament opener at Auckland’s Eden Park, were swept up in the downtown incident.
The team’s hotel is in the same block as the crime scene, placing it in lockdown on Thursday morning.
Norway’s captain Maren Mjelde – a teammate of Matildas captain Sam Kerr at club side Chelsea – said “we felt safe the whole time”.
“Everyone probably woke up quite quickly when the helicopter hovered outside the hotel window and a large number of emergency vehicles arrived,” she told Norwegian broadcaster NRK.
“At first we didn’t know what was going on, but eventually there were updates on TV and the local media.
“FIFA has a good security system at the hotel, and we have our own security officer in the squad.
“Everyone seems calm. We are preparing as normal for the game tonight.”
Three people, including the gunman, were killed in the shooting, a rare event in New Zealand.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said there were discussions over an appropriate marking of the incident at the opening match.
Tens of thousands of visitors are in New Zealand for the World Cup, and Hipkins assured them that they would be safe attending matches.
“Clearly, with the FIFA World Cup kicking off this evening there are a lot of eyes on Auckland,” he said.
“New Zealanders are welcoming people. We are excited about hosting the FIFA World Cup … there is no ongoing risk here.
“We will have very active police presence to provide that reassurance.”
AAP
Your view: Can NZ shock Norway?
The Grasshoppers (yep, that’s Norway’s nickname) were a football powerhouse in the 1990s, and World Cup winners in 1995, but their grip on the football world has dropped off recently, and they currently sit 12th in the FIFA rankings.
New Zealand are a lot further down the rankings at 26, but they’re playing a World Cup on home soil – something that can’t be underestimated. The Kiwis are 0-15 when it comes to Women’s World Cup matches, but as we saw with Saudia Arabia’s shock win over Argentina in the Men’s World Cup – anything is possible.
Welcome
Good afternoon football fans, and welcome to the greatest day of the year – the start of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
My name is Billie Eder and I will be taking you through every kick, corner, penalty and goal during tonight’s games.
The action starts at 5pm AEST when co-hosts New Zealand take on Norway in Auckland, followed by the mighty Matildas who play Ireland at 8pm AEST in Sydney for the first of their group-stage games.
So, get your green and gold shirts on, turn the volume up on the TV, and settle in for a fantastic night of football.
Matildas stars Katrina Gorry, Steph Catley, Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord.Credit: Getty
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