The women’s squad shocked much-favored Norway with a 1-0 victory to start the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, marking the first-ever victory for a New Zealand national football team at a World Cup competition.
A moment of silence was observed prior to the start of the match in memory of the two people who lost their lives and the five others who were hurt, including a police officer, in the shooting that occurred in Auckland early on Thursday morning not far from Eden Park, the site of the opening World Cup game.
The gunman was killed in the incident and New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins told reporters that authorities do not see the shooting as a national security risk, or threat to the World Cup competition
And, indeed, it did with New Zealand, ranked No. 26 in the world, taking on No. 12-ranked Norway in a Group A match, which set a record for attendance for any soccer match in New Zealand history, men’s or women’s with more than 42,100 people in attendance.
The game was a deadlock until a goal in the 48th minute at close range by New Zealand’s Hannah Wilkinson, who scored on a cross from teammate Jacqui Hand. A penalty kick by New Zealand near the end of regulation time would have put the Ferns up another goal, but Ria Percival missed when her shot hit the crossbar in the 90th minute.
Australia, the other co-host, will play Ireland in Sydney later on Thursday for the opening game of Group B
Over the course of the upcoming month, 32 teams will participate in more than 60 games spread across 10 locations in Australia and New Zealand, two very different nations when it comes to football. Australia has had more success with the sport internationally, but New Zealand is more well-known as a rugby nation and, up until Thursday, had never won a match in the World Cup, whether it was for men’s or women’s competition.
The U.S. Women’s National Team is ranked No. 1 and arrives at this year as the tournament’s two-time defending champion, favored to win again. The U.S. has nine players returning this year who were also on the 2019 champion team, including Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, and Julie Ertz.
The Americans’ first game is this weekend in New Zealand against Vietnam, with the U.S. seen as a heavy favorite.
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