Women's U-17 World Cup kicks off in NZ
30 Oct 2008
A new round of football fever - the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup - kicked off in New Zealand this week with an opening clash between the home team and hot favourites the Canadians.
It was the host's job to open the 16-team tournament on Tuesday (October 28, 2008) at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland, and despite a 1-0 loss the New Zealanders are hoping to get through to the second round.
The four group match schedule will be played out with Group A in Auckland, Group B in Christchurch, Group C in Hamilton, and Group D in Wellington. The event runs through until November 16 when the final will be played in Auckland.
World competition
The FIFA Women's World Cup is recognised as the most important international competition in women's football and is played every four years. The first tournament was held in 1991, 61 years after the men's first FIFA World Cup tournament in 1930.
Teams from Canada, Germany, Denmark, Colombia, Costa Rica, North Korea, Ghana, Japan, United States, France, Paraguay, Brazil, England, South Korea and Nigeria are in New Zealand for the tournament.
Television coverage
Some 155 countries have bought television rights with an estimated cumulative worldwide TV audience of more than 125 million.
The global television audience will also watch a two-minute video on each host city - Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Hamilton - giving viewers a snapshot of life down-under.
"The opportunities that presents New Zealand is huge," said organising committee chief executive Chris Simpson.
FIFA president in NZ
The tournament will also bring Sepp Blatter, president of the sport's world governing body FIFA, to New Zealand.
Mr Simpson said Mr Blatter's presence showed how significant the tournament was.
"FIFA have placed a lot of emphasis on the female game, and with this being the inaugural event, they want it to be a great success."
Mr Simpson said about 1200 volunteers would help to ensure the tournament ran smoothly.
Large crowds
The opening match in Auckland pulled a crowd of 13,123 bringing a smile to FIFA officials and local organisers. As a comparison, the opening game at the 1999 U-17 Men's Championship between New Zealand and the United States attracted 14,103.
Women's football is one of New Zealand's fastest growing sports and of the country's 100,000 or more junior players, one third are girls.
Internationally, girls represent 10 percent of junior numbers.
Tournament facts
Participating teams
Group A: New Zealand, Canada, Denmark, Colombia.
Group B: Costa Rica, Germany, North Korea, Ghana.
Group C: Japan, United States, France, Paraguay.
Group D: Brazil, England, South Korea, Nigeria.
Top two teams from each group qualify for the knockout stages.
Full match schedule
Group A: Oct 28, NZ v Canada, Auckland; Oct 29, Denmark v Colombia, Auckland; Nov 1, Colombia v Canada, Auckland; Nov 1, NZ v Denmark, Auckland; Nov 4, Canada v Denmark, Hamilton; Nov 4, Colombia v NZ, Wellington.
Group B: Oct 29, Costa Rica v Germany, Christchurch; Oct 29, North Korea v Ghana, Christchurch; Nov 1, Ghana v Germany, Christchurch; Nov 1, Costa Rica v North Korea, Christchurch; Nov 4, Germany v North Korea, Hamilton; Nov 4, Ghana v Costa Rica, Wellington.
Group C: Oct 30, Japan v US, Hamilton; Oct 30, France v Paraguay, Hamilton; Nov 2, Paraguay v US, Hamilton; Nov 2, Japan v France, Hamilton; Nov 5, Paraguay v Japan, Christchurch; Nov 5, US v France, Auckland.
Group D: Oct 30, Brazil v England, Wellington; Oct 30, South Korea v Nigeria, Wellington; Nov 2, Nigeria v England, Wellington; Nov 2, Brazil v South Korea, Wellington; Nov 5, Nigeria v Brazil, Christchurch; Nov 5, England v South Korea, Auckland.
Quarterfinals: Nov 8 & 9, Wellington and Hamilton.
Semifinals: Nov 13, Christchurch.
Third place playoff and Final: Nov 16, Auckland.
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