Whangarei gets thumbs up, FIFA trophy to travel through Northland

 

Officials from football’s world governing body, FIFA, have given Whangarei a thumbs up as it prepares to host FIFA’s second largest global tournament – the U-20 World Cup – in 2015.
 
In Whangarei recently to inspect the host stadium and various training venues for the event, FIFA inspectors agreed that the venue was in great shape to showcase the world’s biggest game.

The largest football tournament ever staged in New Zealand will take place over three weeks from 30 May 2015 to 20 June 2015 with 24 countries participating. A total of 52 matches will be played in seven host cities – including Whangarei.

During the inspection tour, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) also announced that the iconic FIFA U-20 World Cup trophy would be taken on a nationwide tour of New Zealand, starting in Northland on May 5.

The trophy will be in Northland for three days, arriving in Waitangi on May 5 and working its way through Kaitaia, Kaikohe and Kerikeri before spending a day in Whangarei.

“Whangarei has such a passion and enthusiasm for this tournament so we’re delighted to be working with the city to bring the biggest game in the world to town in 2015,” says FIFA U-20 New Zealand 2015 CEO, Dave Beeche.

“Given the level of enthusiasm for the tournament in Whangarei we are also urging football and sports fans to get in early to purchase tickets when they go on sale as we want to make sure everyone gets a chance to see the world’s greatest young players in action.”

One of the FIFA officials inspecting the Northland Events Centre was the Senior Competitions Manager Rhiannon Martin, who has worked for FIFA for almost 17 years.

“We’ve been hugely impressed with this city,” she said. “The passion and support for this tournament is so evident everywhere you go and on that basis we feel very confident that Whangarei will deliver a great tournament for FIFA in 2015.”

Whangarei Mayor, Sheryl Mai was on hand to welcome the FIFA delegation and reiterated the pride which the city and the region felt in being awarded the honour of hosting the greatest young players in world football.

“The FIFA U-20 World Cup promises to be the sporting highlight of next year, if not this decade,” she says. “Whangarei’s football players and spectators of all ages are very excited about the event, and that excitement is spreading into the wider community.”

Players like Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, Cesc Fabregas and Luis Figo have all starred at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in years gone by and many of those participating in the 2015 tournament will have already established their reputations in the top leagues in Europe.

With the world coming to New Zealand, fans are encouraged to register for ticket alerts on www.fifa.com/NZ2015 to make sure they don’t miss out on the best seats, with early bird tickets going on sale next month to official fans. 
 
 

“The FIFA U-20 World Cup promises to be the sporting highlight of next year, if not this decade.”
- Whangarei Mayor, Sheryl Mai