Following the excitement of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ Draw at the Aotea Centre in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland last Saturday, 22 October 2022, Aotearoa New Zealand is proud to extend a powerful welcome to every one of the 16 teams – including the United States of America and Japan – who will be based in New Zealand throughout the tournament. 

The Draw was attended by 800 guests from around the world including the FIFA President and Secretary General and Aotearoa New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. For full details on the finalised match schedule, head to the official FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ website(opens in new window). 

Tourism New Zealand partnered with the Football Ferns and members of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei who are ahi kaa (traditional custodians of the land) of Tāmaki Makarau Central Auckland to lay down a taki, signalling a formal invitation to the qualifying teams, their fans, their friends and their whānau (family). You can watch the laying of the taki here(opens in new window). 

Four cities across New Zealand – Auckland(opens in new window), Hamilton(opens in new window), Wellington(opens in new window) and Dunedin(opens in new window) – will play host to the incoming FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ teams and manuhiri (visitors), embracing the chance to showcase what each has to offer, from spectacular scenery and unique wildlife to exciting activities and thriving food and drink scenes. 

The tournament will kick off on 20th July 2023 with the opening ceremony and opening match between the Football Ferns and Norway at Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s famed Eden Park. We look forward to saying kia ora (hello) and sharing Aotearoa New Zealand’s culture to the world: our stories, our people, and our unique spirit of manaakitanga.