FIFA Under 20 World Cup kicks off

The FIFA Under 20 World Cup kicked off at Auckland’s North Harbour Stadium on Saturday (30th May) - heralding the most important football tournament ever held in New Zealand.

The opening clash – between host nation New Zealand and the Ukraine which resulted in a draw – was preceded by a colourful opening ceremony giving New Zealand football fans and the world a taste of the excitement to come during the three-week tournament – which runs until 20th June).

Coinciding with the opening game, football festivities were in full swing in the ‘City of Sails’ Fever Pitch hub at Queens Wharf, on the city’s thriving downtown waterfront.

Other games on Saturday saw six-time FIFA U-20 World Cup champions Argentina take on Panama in a tense clash at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium and the USA kick off their campaign against Myanmar in the northern city of Whangarei.

The tournament is the second biggest in FIFA’s football calendar with 24 of the world’s most talented U-20 football teams competing for the crown of FIFA U-20 World Cup winners.

A total of 52 games will be played out in seven host cities around New Zealand, offering Kiwi football fans the chance to see some of the rising stars on the world game on their own doorstep.

In the lead up to the big kick off, each team has been treated to a moving Māori cultural welcome in the host city where they will be based for their group games.

On Friday, Hungary, Nigeria, Korea and Brazil were given their traditional welcomes at New Plymouth’s Ōwae Marae.

As part of their welcome, each team member was gifted a pounamu (carved New Zealand greenstone) crafted by local jewellers The Rock Shed. Each pounamu, which was presented in a handwoven flax kete basket, was blessed by the event manager Kiterangi Cameron.

Sacred pounamu is a symbol of strength, durability and beauty. Historically used by Māori for tools, weapons and personal ornaments, pounamu also denotes great status.

Three markings on the pounamu given to the players symbolise the importance of physical, spiritual and environmental unity.

Five time FIFA U-20 World Cup Champions Brazil will start their campaign in a clash against Nigeria at New Plymouth’s Stadium Taranaki today (1st June), followed by Korea against Hungary later in the day.

Meanwhile, in Christchurch on Friday, the German U-20 footballers, who face Fiji in their opening game on 1st June learned how to perform the haka (Māori war challenge) before putting down the football and picking up a rugby ball to play a game of touch rugby with players from Christchurch’s Linwood Rugby Club.

A few former All Blacks – including Canterbury veteran Billy Bush - were also on hand to give the players some tips about the history of rugby, and what makes a great player.

Broadcast to more than 100 countries, with a global reach of around 170 million people, the FIFA U-20 World Cup will also help promote New Zealand to the world. Thousands of overseas football fans are expected to travel to the country in support of their team.

Images: Promoting the Under 20 World Cup high above the streets of Auckland (top) and the North Harbour Stadium (below).

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