Football Ferns
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The FIFA Women’s World Cup is set to be the biggest and best ever, with a couple of records set to fall when the Football Ferns play the opening game of the tournament in Auckland on Thursday.
New Zealand plays Norway at Eden Park in the first match of the 64-game tournament.
Thirty-five thousand fans turned up to Eden Park to watch the All Whites play Australia last year, in what was the first senior football international played at the ground.
But that attendance figure is set to be broken on Thursday, with a sell out crowd of just over 40,000 expected at Eden Park.
It will be easily the biggest crowd to attend any football match in New Zealand, surpassing the 35,194 who watched the men’s national side beat Bahrain in Wellington in 2009 to qualify for the following year’s World Cup.
Football fans at Eden Park in 2022
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Football Ferns’ previous highest attendance was the almost 13,000 who watched them play the United States at Eden Park earlier this year.
Midfielder Annalie Longo said she had been thinking about the opening game for a while.
“You definitely visualise being out there, full stadium with that crowd behind you, it kind of gives you that goosebumps kind of moment.
“We want to go out and inspire that next generation and I can’t wait to put that shirt on and hopefully do that for the country.”
Another veteran of the Ferns side is defensive midfielder Ria Percival, who is also about to play her fifth World Cup.
The 33-year-old is hoping to motivate all the youngsters in the stands at Eden Park.
“For us it’s now leaving a legacy for that next generation that hopefully come through.
“The same with the fans, we obviously need everyone here supporting us.
“It’s a massive opportunity for us to really put our country out there on the stage of football, ready to prove who we are as a squad and as a nation.”
Ria Percival
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
At the other end of the scale, is 17-year-old Milly Clegg who will play in her first senior World Cup.
She wasn’t sure what to expect in front of such a large home crowd.
“This stadium is humongous and it’ll be amazing living in the moment and soaking it all up because it’s such a huge occasion and so special to be involved in it.”
Being hosts does provide special memories of its own, and Ferns defender Rebekah Stott can’t wait.
“The thought of coming out onto Eden Park in front of a sold-out crowd is something we’ll hold forever and we can’t wait.”
The FIFA ticketing website shows tickets are still available for New Zealand’s other group games in Wellington and Dunedin.
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