Women’s World Cup Kicks Off As Planned In New Zealand Just Hours After Auckland Shooting; Co-Host Nation Triumphs Against Norway In Opening Match
20.07.2023 - 09:45
/ deadline.com
The 2023 Women’s World Cup kicked off as planned in Auckland on Thursday, with the co-hosting nation New Zealand triumphing in the opening match against Norway just hours after a lone shooter killed two people and injured six others in the city.
Veteran New Zealand striker Hannah Wilkinson secured her team victory against Norway, which won the tournament in 1995, with a goal three minutes into the second half.
The victory came just hours after the centre of Auckland was shutdown when a gunman, later named as 24-year-old Matu Tangi Matua Reid, entered a construction site and began shooting, killing two people and injuring six others.
He was found dead at the scene after a shootout with police. The motive for his shooting spree is unknown.
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the situation had been contained and there was no risk to national security.
The opening ceremony, celebrating the Maori people of New Zealand and First Nations people of co-host Australia, went ahead as planned at 5.30pm local time (10pm PT) to a packed stadium. There was a minute’s silence before the match in remembrance of the shooting victims.
Co-host Australia were due to face Ireland in front of a record 70,000-strong crowd at Stadium Australia in Sydney at 8pm local time (3 am PT).
This year’s tournament is the ninth Women’s World Cup since its launch in 1991 and marks its biggest to date as growing popularity and professionalization for female championship soccer.
Hot favorite among the 32 competing the teams is the U.S., which is the current champion having won the 2019 tournament in France.
It was announced last week that the team’s bid to take the cup home for a third time is being captured for a docu-series that will launch