Taking place on our home soil, the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup will be hosted here in Australia and New Zealand - with the tournament just a mere few months away, let's explore how the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup will look like here in Australia and New Zealand.
OFFICIAL MATCH BALL
First things first - the Official match ball. Called the 'OCEAUNZ', the Official Match Ball of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand is designed to represent our beautiful countries. A stunning Blue base with curling black lines, littered with stars and sparkles depict our stunning waterways and impeccable nighttime starry skies.
WHO
World class footballing talent from the world over will come here to Australia and New Zealand to compete in the FIFA Women's World Cup - here are the official group draws for the tournament:
WHEN
The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand kicks-off on the 20 July 2023 at New Zealand’s Eden Park in Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau. This match will be played between hosts New Zealand and Norway. Later that same day, right across the ditch, Australia host the Republic of Ireland at Stadium Australia - a fixture which had to change stadiums due to the sheer demand of fans wanting to attend. A possible 100,000+ fans in the opening day of the World Cup. Spectacular.
The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand Grand Final will be played at Stadium Australia on the 20th August 2023.
WHERE
There are in total 9 host cities and 10 stadiums that'll play host to matches in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Stadium Australia
Gross Capacity: 83,500
Brisbane’s long serving football ground will play host to 5 group games, including an Australian match, an England match and a Brazilian match.
Moving into the knockout games and Brisbane Stadium will have a Round of 16, a quarter-final and the 3rd-place-playoff.
Gross capacity: 52,263
Located within walking distance of the Melbourne / Naarm CBD the stadium has hosted international football across its history, including the Opening of the 2015 Asian Cup.
Playing host to 4 group matches and 2 Round of 16 matches, the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium will see games that involve the Matilda’s, Canada- Olympic gold medallists, Nigeria- current African champion and Brazil-the current South American champions.
Gross capacity: 30,052
With some freshly finished redevelopment work specifically for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™, Perth Rectangular Stadium will see 5 group games played across the tournament.
This includes current Asian Champions China and Olympic Gold Medalists Canada as the world visits Western Australia’s premier rectangular stadium.
Gross Capacity: 22,225
Hosting football matches for over 60 years, Hindmarsh Stadium has undertaken redevelopment to be ready to host 4 group games, including Brazil, China and England, before a Round of 16 match as a part of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™
Gross capacity: 18,435
Eden Park has a history of hosting iconic moments in New Zealand sport, including the 1987 and 2011 Rugby World Cup finals, both won by the All Blacks.
The venue will add to this with the opening game of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ between New Zealand and Norway, while two matches featuring current World Cup holders USA are among the six group games being played there.
Eden Park has also been home to major cricket and rugby league matches and over the past decade has hosted Wellington Phoenix A-League matches on an irregular basis.
Once the tournament moves into the knockout phase, one round of 16, quarter-final and semi-final match will each be hosted at Auckland’s premier stadium.
Capacity: 48,276
Wellington Regional Stadium is playing host to some of the biggest group games as a part of the 7 group matches to be played at the venue.
This includes the Football Ferns playing the Philippines, 2 matches for the current African Champions- South Africa and tantalising rematch of the finalist from the 2019 Women’s World Cup- USA vs The Netherlands.
Once the knockout matches start there will be a Round of 16 and quarter-final hosted in the stadium known to locals as ‘The Cake Tin’.
Gross capacity: 39,000
Dunedin Stadium is playing host to 6 group games across the tournament which will add FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ matches to previously hosted FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The matches to be played at New Zealand’s only covered stadium include the current African champions, South Africa, the Football Ferns and 2 matches involving the beaten finalist from the last Women’s World Cup, the Netherlands.
Gross capacity: 28,744
Adding to its history of hosting FIFA matches, Waikato stadium will host 5 group games at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™.
Located a short walk from Hamilton’s city centre, Waikato stadium will see matches that include Japan, Norway, Argentina and Sweden.
Gross capacity: 25,111
The team at SPT Football - Australia's True Football Destination, are super excited for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ here in Australia and New Zealand. We are gearing up for a massive couple of months here in Australia, and will be stocking all the latest football jerseys, football boots, official merchandise, and more.