FIFA has announced that it will be giving away 20,000 free tickets for the Women’s World Cup games held in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, and Dunedin.
FIFA took the decision after observing the sluggish ticket sales in New Zealand.
Among the co-hosts, Australia has already claimed the majority of the 1 million tickets sold thus far, with their team, known as the ‘Matildas,’ being viewed as a serious contender for the title.
Sarai Bareman, FIFA’s chief women’s football officer, acknowledged the challenges of attracting fans to soccer stadiums in New Zealand due to the sport’s relatively lower profile in the country.
Additionally, the New Zealand women’s national team, the ‘Football Ferns,’ have yet to secure a victory in their five previous appearances at the World Cup.
Xero, the official partner of this year’s event, is offering 5,000 complimentary tickets to matches in the four host cities of New Zealand.
Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is also making efforts to generate interest in the tournament.
In an Instagram post, she expressed her excitement about New Zealand hosting such a significant event and encouraged both casual fans and experts to take advantage of the remaining tickets available in Auckland, Dunedin, Wellington, and Hamilton.
New Zealand will commence their campaign against former champions Norway in Auckland on July 20th.
