After a lavish draw performance in Auckland this evening, the Football Ferns have learnt their opponents for the FIFA Women’s World Cup on home soil in 2019.
In between speeches and stage performances, teams were divided into the eight groups and informed of their bases for the pool stage at the Aotea Center the following year.
But when it mattered most, the draws were handled by two-time champion Carli Lloyd and media personality Amanda Davies.
Numerous athletes, including Winter Olympics winner Zoi Sadwoski-Synnott and 50-Test Football Fern Maia Jackman, assisted the pair during the event. Arsenal great Ian Wright attended the event in addition to his media duties from yesterday.
As one of the tournament’s co-hosts, New Zealand was placed in Pot 1 for the draw, which prevented them from being placed in the same groups as superpowers like the United States, Germany, or England.
Additionally, there were three open spots in the draw that will be filled following a 10-team playoff in New Zealand in February.
Before Australia was confirmed in Group B, Jackman assigned the Football Ferns to Group A.
The tournament’s opening match will take place in Auckland, New Zealand, and will feature the 1995 world champions Norway as the first team drawn into Group A. Since the tournament’s inception in 1991, Norway has never failed to qualify.
Ranks No.
21 After reaching the round of 16 in their first tournament debut in 2015, Switzerland was the next team from Pot 3 to join Group A. Given that lower-ranked countries like Vietnam (World No. 34), Costa Rica (World No. 37), and Jamaica (World No. 43) were also in Pot 3, it was one of the most unlucky draws for the Kiwis.
World No. 53 Philippines completed Group A, becoming the first men’s or women’s team from an Asian archipelago to get to the World Cup finals.
In an evening of glitz and glamour at Aotea Centre in Auckland, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern welcomed officials in attendance after a cultural performance from both Māori and Aboriginal people.
Ardern took advantage of the opportunity to promote New Zealand’s friendliness to the rest of the globe, saying she couldn’t wait to demonstrate what “manaakitanga” really meant.
“You will see in our stadiums, in our host towns, and in our welcome in New Zealand and Australia that we embrace the opportunity you have given us in hosting this, the largest women’s athletic event in the world,” Ardern said.
New Zealand is proud to show you a nation that strives to be the finest not only in the globe but for all of humanity.
It so happens that our nation is also quite lovely.
“Soon after, FIFA president Gianni Infantino arrived and gave the crowd a smile, a “kia ora,” and even a “g’day” before outlining his expectations for the tournament’s impact on the “beautiful game.”
Football unifies the world, and we’ll bring it together in Australia and New Zealand next year from the 20th of July to the 20th of August, he declared.
“Due to the joy that football brings, we shall unify the entire planet.
Group A: Philippines, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland
Canada, Australia, Ireland, Nigeria, and Group B
Group C: Japan, Spain, Zambia, Costa Rica, and
Group D members are Winners of the Group B Playoff: China, Denmark
USA, Vietnam, Netherlands, and Group E Winner of the Group A Playoff Group F: France, Jamaica, Brazil Group G: Sweden, South Africa, Italy, and Argentina, winner of the Group C Playoff
Korea, Germany, Colombia, Morocco, and Group H.
Football In a colourful World Cup draw, the Ferns receive previous champs.
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