The deadly shooting, leaving two victims and the gunman dead, occurred near several team hotels on Thursday, marring what was meant to be a day of celebration.
AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Women's World Cup squads in Auckland were shocked but safe after a deadly shooting near several team hotels overshadowed the opening day of the tournament Thursday.
"At first we didn't know what was going on, but eventually there were updates on TV and the local media," she said in a statement hours before the 0700 GMT kickoff.FIFA said in a statement that it had been "in constant contact with the participating teams affected by this incident". The month-long tournament has expanded from 24 teams in France four years ago and is being staged in two different countries for the first time, in nine cities across Australia and New Zealand.
The Football Ferns are hoping to win a World Cup match for the first time at the 16th attempt when they play former champions Norway at Auckland's Eden Park, following the opening ceremony. "We are really confident, but for us, it's just about the first game," the Chelsea striker, the unofficial face of the tournament, said.PAY GAP
Women's football is at an all-time high and the expansion of the World Cup has come with greatly increased prize money.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
New Zealand shooter kills two on eve of Women's Soccer World Cup - SABC NewsAt least two people and an armed attacker were killed and five others wounded in a shooting in New Zealand's largest city of Auckland on Thursday, hours ahead of the opening match of the Women's soccer World Cup in the city.
Read more »
Lauren Dickason said 'she could do something to the babies', New Zealand court hears | News24When he returned to South Africa after the 2021 murder of his three daughters in New Zealand, Graham Dickason found cable ties strung together, much like the ones his wife had used to allegedly to try to strangle them to death, a New Zealand court has heard.
Read more »
Brazil changes working hours to allow employees to catch Women's World CupCivil servants in Brazil will not have to worry about being late for work because of the Women's World Cup after a government minister announced a change to office hours to let them catch the action in Australia and New Zealand.
Read more »
British and Irish Lions to face joint Australia-New Zealand side on 2025 tourThe clash against an 'Anzac XV' in Adelaide will be part of a nine-game visit that will also see the Lions, with players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, take on all five Australian Super Rugby sides.
Read more »
Two dead as gunman opens fire in New Zealand city just hours before Women's World Cup kick offAt least two people and an armed attacker were killed and five others wounded in a shooting in New Zealand's largest city of Auckland on Thursday, hours ahead of the opening match of the Women's soccer World Cup in the city.
Read more »
Women's World Cup 2023: The Africans to watchBBC Sport Africa looks at the Africans to watch from the each of the continent's four teams at the 2023 Women's World Cup.
Read more »