Mainland football fans will get the opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the world’s greatest footballers when the FIFA Women’s Football World Cup kicks off across Australia and New Zend in July 2023.
Although no matches will be held in Christchurch, Cantabrian football fans can still feel part of this amazing event, as our city will be the Team Basecamp and proudly host Japan and Costa Rica during one of the largest sporting events of the decade. Kicking off Thursday 20th July at Eden Park and played across Australia and New Zealand, 32 teams will play Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Dunedin alongside the major capital cities in Australia.
For the first time in the tournament’s history, FIFA has introduced Team Base Camps – headquarters for each team that include accommodation and training facilities. There are 21 venues across the country earmarked for Team Base Camps. Of these, 16 have been selected to be used by teams throughout the tournament. Currently ranked 11th in the world, Nadeshiko Japan will be based out of Christchurch Stadium, and Las Ticas Costa Rica will use the recently upgraded facilities at Ngā Puna Wai.
FIFA’s ‘Tournament Mission’ is to showcase the world’s best female players, engage audiences with a world class event, and blaze a trail for women’s empowerment. Alongside expecting upwards of 30,000 international visitors over the course of the tournament, FIFA’s goals also include increasing women and girls’ participation and engagement in football, sport and active recreation in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific.
Karena Finnie - Head of Major Events at ChristchurchNZThe leverage and legacy of this event will live on long after the tournament is over, and we’re really excited to inspire the next generation of footballers with a chance to see their heroes."
“The leverage and legacy of this event will live on long after the tournament is over, and we’re really excited to inspire the next generation of footballers with a chance to see their heroes,” says Karena Finnie, Manager of Major Events at ChristchurchNZ. “We look forward to adopting the two teams and supporting them on their journey through the tournament”
“Alongside the positive economic impacts, investment from central government in our facilities and delivering a successful tournament, we improve our chances of attracting future sporting events like this to the city and critically build on the opportunities in women’s sport, careers and pathways.”
The Costa Rican and Japanese teams will face off against each other in Pool C, alongside current world number 6 Spain. Both teams will travel the country extensively for their matches, but whilst in town Japan and Costa Rica will find plenty to remind them of home.
Christchurch hosts are working to make arrangements for access to some of the team trainings so local players can learn from the Costa Rican and Japanese teams.
Sports fans, mark July 20th in your diaries — the tournament officially kicks off with our very own Football Ferns taking on 12thranked Norway at Eden Park at 7pm in the championship opener.
