Star player of theUSWNT, Alex Morgan, has openly acknowledged the need for improvement ahead of their last-16 clash against Sweden on Sunday.
Morgan’s team had a close call in the group stages, with a lacklustre 0-0 draw against Portugal and a 1-1 draw against group winners Netherlands, almost missing out on a spot in the knockout stages.
As they prepare for the crucial last 16 tie against Sweden, Morgan has emphasised the necessity for significant improvements if they are to progress to the quarterfinals.
“There’s no sugarcoating it, we had a bad game against Portugal,” Morgan said at a press conference. “We are lucky. We have moved on from that and are looking forward to this match. We’ve prepared every second we possibly could in creating the most chances, on limiting [Sweden] in chances, and I feel very motivated for the match.”
It will be a stern test against Sweden, who narrowly missed out on the 2019 World Cup final — in which USA beat Netherlands 2-0 — and who face USWNT having topped Group G with a maximum nine points.
Despite having 121 goals in 210 appearances for the USWNT, Morgan hasn’t yet scored in this tournament and will need to be on fine form if her side are to get a result.
Morgan and Co. were recently fired a warning shot by Sweden defender Nathalie Bjorn, who told reporters: “We’ll make sure weknock out the USWNT” in a fierce pre-match press conference.
Fighting talk from the Swedes, who come into tomorrow’s match full of confidence.
England forward Lauren James is facing an anxious wait to know the duration of her suspension after being sent off during the round-of-16 penalty shootout victory against Nigeria.
FIFA has informed ESPN that James’ punishment will be determined in due course, but she is confirmed to miss the Lionesses’ upcoming quarterfinal match against either Colombia or Jamaica on Saturday.
Manager Sarina Wiegman expressed that James will learn from her red card and commended the team’s mentality.
In the 87th minute of the match, James received a red card for deliberately stepping on Michelle Alozie, who was on the ground at the time.
Initially, a yellow card was shown, but after a VAR consultation, it was upgraded to a red card.
Despite playing the entire extra time with 10 players, England showed resilience and secured a 4-2 victory on penalties.
“It was a moment that was in a split second,” Wiegman said of James. “It was later in the game, so players get a little tired.
She is inexperienced on this stage and, in a split second, lost her emotions. She would never want to hurt someone, she is the sweetest person I know.”
Wiegman added: “Things happen, you can’t change it. It’s a huge lesson for her to learn, but isn’t something she did on purpose.”
Rachel Daly said James was “disappointed” and “upset.”
“She’s a young player people forget that, they put a lot of pressure on her on the outside, media, everyone puts a lot of pressure on the kid, she’s a young girl, she’s got a lot to learn and she knows that,” Daly said.
“But ultimately, it’s a team game, she’s been excellent for us and course, [we’ll] put an arm around her, help her through it and she’ll learn from it. She’s a fantastic player with a bright future ahead of her.”
Nigeria hit the bar twice but failed to find a breakthrough against an England side who had Keira Walsh starting just 10 days after she suffered the knee injury against Denmark. It’s been a turbulent tournament for England, with the Walsh injury and James’ red card, and Wiegman says it’s a case of looking for solutions when problems arise.
“I’ve never experienced so many problems,” Wiegman said. “[But] that’s my job, to think of things that can happen in a game, in a tournament. You try to turn every stone and think of a solution already if things happen. We got totally tested today.
“We have had many setbacks. I’m proud of the team. Lauren James was sent off, and we reorganised straightaway. We didn’t need more than a minute to do so. Players were tired, but we showed a lot of resilience, and then to go into a penalty shootout and do so well, it was incredible.”
Milena Bertolini has announced her departure as the head coach of Italy after their disappointing group stage exit from the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Italy’s journey began with a promising 1-0 victory over Argentina, but they suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat against Sweden, leading to their elimination.
The team’s fate was sealed in a dramatic manner on Wednesday, as South Africa scored a stoppage-time winner to secure a 3-2 victory, leaving Italy in the third position in Group G.
Bertolini, who took charge in 2017, previously led Italy to an impressive run in the 2019 World Cup, reaching the quarterfinals.
However, their early exit in this year’s tournament adds to the disappointment following their performance in Euro 2022, where they finished at the bottom of their group with just one point.
“I leave the national team after so many beautiful and very intense years, which I will always carry with me,” Bertolini said on Sunday in a lengthy statement posted on her Instagram.
“It is not always possible to achieve positive results, but I have no doubts about everyone’s commitment and good intentions.”
A day after Italy’s exit, a statement on Instagram signed by “players of the national team” said the team were “not put in a condition” to succeed. The statement was shared by veteran forwards Cristiana Girelli and Barbara Bonansea, among others.
“Too naive and obvious is the search for a scapegoat,” Bertolini said. “I do not feel any resentment, and I have no reason to feel or look for a culprit.”
Bertolini had said earlier that Italy’s dented confidence after the 5-0 defeat to Sweden likely played a major part in their loss to South Africa. “We were never afraid. But we didn’t feel there was a lot of confidence in us either,” the players’ statement read.
“The national team is made up of a core of 16 Roma and Juventus players. We think it’s fair to ask how a national team made up of this group of players struggles a lot, first at the Euros and now a World Cup.
“The feeling of regret is still strong because we came to this World Cup wanting redemption … We’re sure we could have gotten different results if only we’d been put in the condition to do so.”
Coach Milena Bertolini attributed Italy’s surprising exit from the Women’s World Cup to their shaken confidence.
The dented morale played a significant role as South Africa’s 3-2 upset in Wellington brought an end to Italy’s campaign.
Italy’s expectation of progressing required only a draw against their lower-ranked opponents.
However, their failure to capitalize on crucial opportunities, coupled with Thembi Kgatlana’s stoppage-time winning goal, sealed their fate.
While they began with a promising 1-0 victory against Argentina, Italy faced a crushing setback with a 5-0 loss to Sweden in their subsequent match.
This devastating defeat left an enduring impact on the team’s psyche, making it difficult to regain their footing.
“I’m sure that the game against Sweden and also the goals we conceded effected our trust, our confidence, our peace of mind,” she told reporters via a translator.
“It’s clear that today the emotional side was actually important, (a) major factor but this is an aspect that is part of the growth that this team has to make.”
Their early exit marked the latest major disappointment for Italy after Euro 2022, where they finished bottom of their group following a demoralising 5-1 opening defeat by France.
It is a disappointing trajectory for the team four years after they stunningly reached the World Cup quarter-finals, following a two-decade-long absence from the tournament.
But Bertolini insisted there was cause for optimism.
“We’re in a transition period for that historical group of players in 2019 and now we’re actually inserting new players, young players,” she said.
“This is part of our pathway and perhaps in (the) future, in the next competitions, the Italian national team will have young players that are very experienced, have accrued experience.”
Peter Gerhardsson’s Sweden team demonstrated their dominance by securing their position as Group G winners in a convincing display against Argentina, who extended their unfortunate streak of 12 consecutive FIFA Women’s World Cup matches without a victory.
Argentina, holding the record for the highest number of Women’s World Cup matches played without a win, aimed to break this pattern to advance.
However, Sweden, unsurprisingly, had the upper hand in the first half, with Olivia Schough’s long-range free-kick collected by Argentina’s goalkeeper Vanina Correa, followed by Schough’s header from 12 yards wide of the post.
The second half brought a turning point for Argentina, as their resistance eventually crumbled 20 minutes in when Rebecka Blomqvist scored with a header from inside the penalty area, granting Sweden a well-deserved lead.
The goal was made possible by an exquisite cross into the 18-yard box from Sofia Jakobsson.
Jakobsson’s cross, delivered from the right-hand side, showcased one of the standout assists of the tournament so far, underlining the evident difference in quality between Sweden and Argentina.
Before the final whistle, Sweden received an opportunity to reflect their dominance on the scoreboard.
A moment of recklessness from Argentina’s Gabriela Chavez led to her fouling Blomqvist in the penalty area, prompting referee Salima Mukansanga to award a penalty.
Elin Rubensson confidently converted the penalty, increasing the lead and solidifying Sweden’s impressive performance.
Despite resting several key players prior to the match, Sweden’s coach Gerhardsson must have been pleased with their ability to maintain their winning streak and conclude the group stage with a flawless record.
Nevertheless, Sweden now faces the challenging task of competing against reigning champions USA in the knockout stage. The team’s pursuit of their first Women’s World Cup triumph remains alive.
Chelsea full-back Reece James has responded to his sister Lauren’s impressive performance at the Women’s World Cup, where she scored two goals and provided three assists in England’s victory against China.
The only goal she wasn’t involved in was the last, which was scored by Lauren Coombes and Rachel Daly.
Unfortunately, Lauren James was denied a World Cup hat-trick due to an offside decision confirmed by VAR.
Reece kept it short and sweet, reposting a post uploaded his sister to his Instagram story, simply adding to it, saying: “Another day @ the office,” with two football emojis as well as three capital A’s, symbolising his sister’s hat-trick of assists.
England’s victory was never in doubt, as they secured a comfortable lead with first-half goals from Alessia Russo, Lauren Hemp, and a goal from James.
The impressive 3-0 victory allowed the Lionesses to clinch the top spot in Group D with a flawless 100% record, a feat shared only with Japan in the tournament.
Sweden and Colombia also have the opportunity to finish their group stages with three wins out of three, should they emerge victorious in their final matches.
As the opening day game between Chelsea and Liverpool approaches, Reece James will undoubtedly focus on his preparations with Chelsea.
However, it’s clear that his attention will also be partly on the Lionesses and his sister’s performance at the Women’s World Cup.
In a masterful display, England secured their spot in the FIFA Women’s World Cup knockout stages, propelled by the exceptional performance of Lauren James, as they triumphed with an impressive 6-1 victory over China.
“We showed our determination and skill, and it feels fantastic to be heading to the knockout stages,” said England coach Sarina Wiegman, expressing her delight at the team’s achievement of becoming the first nation in the tournament’s history to score in 16 consecutive matches.
Facing a resilient China side, who were eager to prove their mettle after a narrow victory over Haiti, England wasted no time in asserting their dominance. Just four minutes into the match, Alessia Russo capitalized on a clever assist from Lauren James to net her first goal of the tournament.
“China may have posed a challenge, but we knew what we had to do, and we did it well,” said James, highlighting the team’s determination to overcome any obstacles.
With just a point needed to secure their qualification to the knockout stages, England continued to control the game as the first half unfolded.
The midfield duo of Katie Zelem and Georgia Stanway shone brightly, orchestrating the play and injecting excitement with their new-look partnership.
A second goal came before the half-hour mark, as Millie Bright and Lauren James combined effectively, setting up Lauren Hemp to confidently finish past Yu Zhu and extend England’s lead.
China coach Shui Qingxia acknowledged England’s dominant display, admitting, “They were a formidable opponent, not an easy piece of cake for us,” as she praised the Lionesses’ performance.
With this spectacular victory, England showcased their prowess on the World Cup stage, and their fans can look forward to more thrilling performances as they progress further in the tournament.
Armed with a two-goal advantage, the Lionesses showed no signs of slowing down before HT, and their positive approach was rewarded when James swept in a brilliant third from the edge of the box, giving England a commanding lead at the interval.
That goal looked to have put China on the brink of elimination, but the Steel Roses were handed a lifeline early in the second half when Lucy Bronze was adjudged to have handled in the box, allowing Wang Shuang to step up and convert from the spot.
Determined to reassert their control in the contest, England quickly restored their three-goal cushion as Jess Carer found James at the back post, who guided a sublime first-time volley into the far corner.
A statement performance from the European champions continued to deliver right up until the final whistle, with Chloe Kelly and Rachel Daly adding late gloss to the scoreline, as theLionesses finished top of Group D with three wins from three, setting up a last-16 clash with Nigeria.
In a historic moment at theWomen’s World Cup, Nouhaila Benzina became the first player to wear a hijab while playing, as Morocco secured their first-ever victory in a Group H match against South Korea in Adelaide.
Ibtissam Jraidi’s early header proved to be the decisive goal, granting the North African side a remarkable win, while South Korea’s chances of advancing in the tournament were severely diminished with one match still to play.
Previously, FIFA had banned religious head coverings in its sanctioned games citing “health and safety reasons,” but this restriction was overturned in 2014 following advocacy from activists, athletes, and soccer officials.
This progressive move paved the way for Nouhaila Benzina to make history with her hijab on the field.
Morocco’s triumph is a significant milestone for the team at the Women’s World Cup.
Despite being 55 ranks below South Korea in the women’s rankings, the African side made an early breakthrough with Ibtissam Jraidi’s remarkable header, securing their first-ever World Cup goal.
Although South Korea’s Eun-Sun Park came close to equalizing with a diving header, her effort narrowly missed the target.
Throughout the game, Morocco’s goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi was hardly tested by the South Korean team, who struggled to create chances and failed to register a shot on target.
Nouhaila Benzina showcased her defensive prowess with crucial interventions during the match and even came close to scoring herself from a set-piece, volleying a snapshot just over the bar.
In the late stages of the game, South Korea’s Casey Phair had an opportunity to level the score, but the 16-year-old, who had already made history as the youngest player to appear in a Women’s World Cup match during their previous defeat to Colombia, missed the target, leaving her team at the bottom of the group.
Collin Bell, the South Korea manager, said: “I can’t believe it, to be honest. We saved the worst two performances in my tenure for the World Cup. I didn’t recognise my own team.
“The reality is we were not good enough in both games. Why that was, we have to analyse in detail. I’m not going to let my emotions take over now and obviously we’re all very disappointed.
“The players are much better than they’ve shown in both matches and it really is almost unbelievable that we’ve performed like we have.”
Morocco’s tally of three points moves them level with Germany and Colombia in Group H, although those two sides meet later on Sunday.
TheCanadian women’s national team announced on Friday that they have reached an interim agreement with Canada Soccer to receive compensation for 2023, considering the financial challenges faced by the governing body.
In contrast, Canada’s men’s team revealed on Tuesday that they are still unpaid for their participation in the World Cup in 2022.
They also expressed concerns that the governing body is using the pressure of the women’s tournament to push them into an unsatisfactory agreement.
“We have been forced to choose between compensation and the funding required to hold necessary training camps,” women’s national team players said in a statement posted on the social media of the Canadian Soccer Players’ Association (CSPA).
“We have been forced to choose between receiving a fair share of the rewards from our teams’ successes at the World Cups and our commitment to equal pay and equal treatment with our Men’s National Team.
“These are choices we should not have had to make.”
The players said the new agreement includes prize money allocation from the ongoing Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand but added they were disappointed with not having reached a “more complete” deal.
“We are deeply disappointed to find ourselves without a more complete agreement at this crucial stage in our calendar,” they said.
“While there are many important items remaining for future negotiation… we have worked… to make sure this… agreement ensures, at minimum, equal pay with our Men’s National Team, within the constraints created by Canada Soccer’s financial situation.
“This isn’t over. We and the Men’s National Team remain committed to finding a long-term solution that provides for fair and equal treatment for our current National Teams and investments in the future of Canadian soccer.
“But for now, our team just wants to focus on soccer.”
Canada are second in Group B of the Women’s World Cup following a goalless draw with Nigeria and a 2-1 win over Ireland.
They will face third-placed co-hosts Australia in their last group stage clash on Monday in their bid to progress to the knockout stage.
In a surprising turn of events at theWomen’s World Cup, Nigeria pulled off a remarkable comeback to defeat co-hosts Australia 3-2 in Brisbane, taking a significant step towards qualifying for the knockout phase.
After Australia took the lead just before halftime, Nigeria showed great resilience and determination in the second half.
Uchenna Kanu, Osinachi Ohale, and substitute Asisat Oshoala all found the back of the net, securing Africa’s first victory in the tournament Down Under. This win places Nigeria one point away from securing a spot in the last-16 stage.
With four points, Nigeria now tops Group B, edging ahead of Canada on goal difference, while Australia stands at three points. Ireland, at the bottom of the standings, is out of contention without any points.
In their final group game, Nigeria will face Ireland in Brisbane next Monday, where they only need a draw to progress further. Meanwhile, Australia and Canada will clash in Melbourne at the same time.
Although Australia dominated the early exchanges and scored just before halftime, Nigeria quickly equalized within three minutes, showing their determination to stay in the game.
Rasheedat Ajibade’s cross led to a deflection that found Uchenna Kanu at the back post, allowing her to poke it home from close range.
The victory for Nigeria has added excitement to the tournament, and the Super Falcons are proving to be a formidable force in the Women’s World Cup.
A 65th minute corner was not properly cleared by the Australians, allowing Nigeria to get the ball across the goal and a brave header from Ohale put them ahead.
Seven minutes after taking the lead, Nigeria stunned the crowd as they went two goals clear with Oshoala taking advantage of a defensive mix-up between central defender Alanna Kennedy and goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, stealing away the ball and scoring from a tight angle.
Nigeria had to weather 13 minutes of stoppage time added on at the end of the game to ensure a precious three-point haul, although conceded in the 100th minute to Kennedy, who headed home a corner.
Nigeria had previously beaten Australia at the Women’s World Cup in Canada in 2015 and Thursday’s win was only their fifth in 28 games at nine final appearances.
Defeat for Australia’s Matildas follows a similar defeat for the other co-hosts New Zealand at the hands of the Philippines earlier in the week.
Canada narrowly avoided a major upset at theWomen’s World Cup (WWC) as they had to stage a comeback to defeat Ireland.
The underdogs, Ireland, took a shocking lead in the fourth minute when Katie McCabe scored.
However, Canada quickly turned the game around with two quick goals before and after half-time, eliminating Vera Pauw’s side.
Ireland made an impressive start, almost taking the lead through Kyra Carusa before McCabe’s goal from a corner caught the Canadian goalkeeper off guard.
Canada, despite being the favorites, struggled to create chances until late in the first half when Vanessa Giles missed a close-range opportunity.
In the second half, Canada showed more energy and leveled the score just before half-time stoppage when Ireland’s Megan Connolly accidentally scored an own goal.
After the break, Canada continued to press, and Courtney Brosnan’s excellent save denied Jordyn Huitema’s long-range shot, which could have given Canada the lead much earlier.
Minutes later though, that goal finally came thanks to Adriana Leon prodding home from near the penalty spot to complete the turnaround.
Christine Sinclair, introduced at half-time, was twice thwarted in her attempt to score at a record sixth WWC as her shots were saved by Brosnan, who also caught Huitema’s towering header.
Searching for a third goal left Canada open to a sucker punch at the other end, and one was nearly provided by McCabe when her mazy run ended in a shot that was deflected narrowly wide.
There was to be noIreland comeback though, meaning their dream of qualifying for the knockout stages is over, whereas Canada know a point from their final game against Australia is likely to be enough to progress to the last 16.
Canada’s Christine Sinclair was named to the bench ina Women’s World Cup match for the first time in her 23-year international career on Wednesday.
Sinclair, the all-time top goal-scorer in international football and her country’s captain, was among the substitutes when the teamsheet came out for Canada’s crucial clash with Ireland.
The 40-year-old has now been to six World Cup tournaments, her first coming in 2003, and had been included in the starting XI in all 22 of her previous appearances in the competition. Sinclair missed a penalty in Canada’s first game of this World Cup as the Olympic gold medalists were held to a goalless draw by Nigeria.
A result against Ireland is imperative, then, if they are to stand a good chance of progressing from a group that also includes co-hosts Australia.
If Sinclair scores during Canada’s current campaign, she will become the first man or woman to score in six different World Cup tournaments.
Sinclair will hope she can still make an impact from the bench as Canada look to kickstart theirWomen’s World Cup campaign with a good result against Ireland in Perth.
Following several instances of games at the Women’s World Cup being paused forvideo assistant referee (VAR) review, South Korea coach Colin Bell expressed his frustration and anger over the absence of VAR for a penalty awarded against his team during their 2-0 defeat to Colombia on Tuesday.
In the 30th minute, Catalina Usme scored from a penalty kick after Shim Seo-yeon was penalized for a handball, leaving the Korean side disheartened and deflated. Coach Colin Bell questioned why VAR was not utilized for such a crucial decision that had a significant impact on the match.
“The penalty was a little bit harsh because the ball was really well-struck, at speed, at distance, I don’t know where Seo-yeon would have had to put our arms,” said Bell, on the shot that glanced off the defender’s arm.
“I just wondered why that was not reviewed. I’ve watched all the matches so far in this tournament, you’ve had five minutes with review at times (when) nobody knows what’s going on. This time it’s a clear penalty. So, then you go down (a goal), and then it’s very difficult against a very strong Colombia team.”
Linda Caicedo, an 18-year-old striker for Real Madrid, added the second goal for Colombia, who dominated for most of the afternoon at Sydney Football Stadium, easily slicing through Korea’s defence.
Bell said his team made it too easy for Caicedo.
“Obviously Linda is a really big talent but we just gave her too much space. I used to play fullback, so I would just slide tackle,” said the British coach, who was hired after Korea lost all three matches at the 2019 World Cup.
“We had the options to do that also before the second goal. You cannot just shadow a player. We need to be stronger in the one-v-one situation. Not going to say you can stop them every time. But definitely we could have just slide tackled. No foul, win the ball, ball was free. Job done. You’re a defender, defend.”
The 61-year-old Bell played two seasons forLeicester City. His coaching resume includes numerous pro clubs in Germany and England.
American-born Casey Phair became the youngest player ever to take the pitch in a World Cup game when Bell sent the 16-year-old on in the 78th minute. Bell said she deserved a chance to play, and her presence on the pitch was a message.
Phair became the youngest woman to play at the World CupProfimedia
“She’s trained really, really well, as good as anybody else,” he said.
“And it’s also a signal. That’s the future. Casey is the future. We need strong fast players with the physicality. I think that’s a lesson for us all to learn. In Korea we need more intensity … we’re looking for those type of players. I think Casey is one of them, that give us that energy and that power.”
South Korea next face Morocco in Group H on Sunday.
Co-hosts Australia secured a well-deserved 1-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland in their opening match of theWomen’s World Cup in Sydney.
Stephanie Catley scored from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute, giving the Matildas a perfect start to the tournament.
The absence of star player Sam Kerr, who was injured, was felt by Australia in the goalless first half.
The match showed only glimpses of the Matildas’ dominance as they faced some resistance from Ireland.
Hayley Raso had the hosts’ first significant chance, but her header went wide. On the other hand, Ireland struggled to create opportunities and failed to register a shot on target in the first half.
However, the game’s pace changed dramatically in the second half. Shortly after the break, Raso was fouled in the box, leading to a clear penalty for Australia.
The thrilling encounter unfolded in front of a record-breaking crowd, and the Matildas got off to a strong start in their pursuit of a successful World Cup campaign.
Experienced full-back Catley stepped up and smashed the ball into the top corner, for what was only her third international goal in 55 appearances.
The visitors’ best chances to equalise came through set pieces, with Mackenzie Arnold regularly being tested from corners.
However, the Aussie goalkeeper was equal to them every time.
Australia’s players celebrate the only goal of the game AFP
Katrina Gorry missed a late chance to put Ireland out of sight, but more staunch defending from the hosts was enough to them to see out the game 1-0, and duly secure their seventh clean sheet in nine games.
For their part, Ireland were by no means disgraced, but it gets no easier from here, with an imminent matchup against Canada – a nation that has survived the group stage in each of the previous two WWC editions.
Just hours before the Women’s World Cup kicked off, a rare multiple shooting in the heart of Auckland shook the city as tens of thousands gathered to watch New Zealand play Norway in the tournament’s first match.
In a hastily convened news conference, New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins provided details of the attack and confirmed that three people, including the gunman, had died and a number of others had been hurt.
After hearing reports that a man brandishing a pump action shotgun had started firing on a work site shortly after 7 a.m. local time on Thursday, emergency personnel sped to the city’s central business district, the man claimed.
“He moved through the building site discharging the firearm as he went,” Hipkins said. “Upon reaching the upper levels of the building, the man contained himself in an elevator. Shots were fired, and he was located a short time later.”
News footage showed heavily armed police dressed in body armour and carrying rifles flocking to the scene and cordoning off swathes of the business district.
Hipkins said the actions of the police officers who “ran into the gunfire, straight into harm’s way in order to save the lives of others” were “nothing short of heroic.”
New Zealand Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said one officer was shot as he attempted to engage the gunman, and four civilians had “moderate to critical injuries.”
Coster said the suspect was under home detention orders but had an exemption to work at the construction site where the shooting took place, and the incident was believed to be related to his work there.
The man had a “family violence history” but there was “nothing to suggest that he has presented a high level risk,” Coster said. He did not have a firearms license, Coster added.
New Zealand Police said the shooting did not pose a national security risk, as officials confirmed the Women’s World Cup opening ceremony and first game would go ahead as planned.
In a statement, FIFA said it extended “its deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims”.
“FIFA has been informed that this was an isolated incident that was not related to football operations and the opening match tonight at Eden Park will proceed as planned,” the statement added.
However plans to show the match on a big screen at a fanzone in downtown Auckland were scrapped “out of deep respect to those who lost their lives,” the mayor’s office and Auckland Council said in a statement. The fan festival will open from midday Friday, the statement added.
Tourism New Zealand also canceled a welcome event scheduled for the opening match because the location is within the area cordoned off by police as they investigate the shooting.
The central business district in Auckland is the commercial heart of the city, a base for blue chip international firms and the gateway to the famous harborside, which is lined with restaurants and bars and home to the main ferry terminal.
Shootings are relatively rare in New Zealand, especially following the introduction of strict gun laws in 2019 after a mass shooting in Christchurch left 50 people dead and led to strict new laws curbing firearms being passed in a matter of days.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown told New Zealand public radio RNZ the shooting was a “dreadful thing to happen in our city at a time when the rest of the world’s watching us over the football.”
New Zealand will face Norway at Eden Park in the opening match on Thursday in one of the world’s biggest sporting events, co-hosted by New Zealand and neighbor Australia.
Players from the United States women’s national soccer team (USWNT) also addressed the shooting at their inaugural press conference.
“Unfortunately in the US I feel like we’ve dealt with this far too many times,” forward Lynn Williams told reporters.
Looking over the cordon, Nisha, an American tourist who had traveled to Auckland to watch the World Cup, described the shooting to CNN as “incredibly tragic… especially at the start of the World Cup, there’s so many people coming in, there’s so much excitement.”
Nisha, who declined having her surname published, said news of the shooting surprised her.
“In places like New Zealand, you just assume a level of sort of safety, right?” she said.
Standing at the edge of the cordon on Quay Street a block away from the ferry pier, 21 year-old Seth Kruger, who is originally from South Africa, expressed shock at the shooting.
“I reckon it’s a pretty rare occurrence for New Zealand, he said. “Moving here, you move here for safety reasons. So pretty weird for this to be happening just down the road from home as well.”
Kruger and his friend David Aguillon were scheduled to work at The Cloud, a multipurpose event space at the Queen’s Wharf along the Auckland waterfront, which is hosting the FIFA Fan Festival throughout the World Cup.
However, with the police continuing to cordon off several key streets, Aguillon said they hadn’t been able to get on site, and it was unclear whether the Fan Festival would be open in time for Monday’s first game.
In a statement, US Soccer said that it “extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims who were killed in downtown Auckland today.”
In a statement, New Zealand Football said it was “shocked” by the incident. “We can confirm that all of the Football Ferns team and staff are safe but we will not be able to comment further while details are still emerging,” a statement said. “Preparations for the game tonight at Eden Park will continue as planned.”
In the heart of Auckland, New Zealand, a shooting incident tragically claimed the lives of two individuals just hours before the scheduled opening of the Fifa Women’s World Cup.
Additionally, six others, including police officers, were injured in the incident, which took place at 07:22 local time on a construction site in the city’s central business district.
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins assured the public that the attack was not considered an act of terrorism. Despite the unfortunate event, he confirmed that the Women’s World Cup would proceed as planned.
While the motive behind the attack has not been established as political or ideological, authorities have neutralized the threat, and the public can rest assured that there is no ongoing risk.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown emphasized that the shooting was unrelated to the Women’s World Cup in any way.
The gunman, identified as 24-year-old Matu Tangi Matua Reid, was armed with a pump-action shotgun and caused panic as he rampaged through the construction site.
He was known to the police and had a history of family violence and mental health issues. Despite being under a home detention order, he had an exemption to work at the site, although he did not possess a firearm license.
Prime Minister Hipkins expressed gratitude towards the courageous men and women of the New Zealand police who risked their lives and confronted the gunfire to protect others from harm.
“These kinds of situations move fast and the actions of those who risk their lives to save others are nothing short of heroic”.
All Fifa personnel and football teams are safe and have been accounted for. Earlier, he had warned people to stay home and avoid travelling into the city, Mr Brown said.
“I can’t remember anything like this ever happening in our beautiful city. This morning’s events have been tragic and distressing for all Aucklanders, as this is not something that we are used to,” Mr Brown wrote on Twitter.
Fifa expressed its “deepest condolences” to the victims’ families and said it was in communication with New Zealand authorities.
“The participating teams in close proximity to this incident are being supported in relation to any impact that may have taken place,” it said.
The opening match between New Zealand and Norway in the city’s Eden Park got under way at 19:00 local time (07:00 GMT).
Sport Minister Grant Robertson announced the deployment of additional police in the area to provide reassurance after a shooting incident.
The Women’s World Cup, which is the ninth edition, is jointly hosted by New Zealand and Australia.
Police received reports of a person discharging a firearm inside a construction site, leading to the gunman moving through the building while continuing to fire shots.
The situation escalated when the perpetrator entered a lift shaft, and authorities attempted to engage with him. During the confrontation, the man fired further shots before he was eventually found dead a short time later.
In response to the shooting, a significant armed police presence was evident in the central business district, which is in proximity to the waterfront and fan park.
Tatjana Haenni, the chief sporting director for the National Women’s Soccer League USA, was staying close to the shooting location.
She recounted waking up to the sounds of police cars arriving and being advised to remain indoors. Haenni expressed feeling safe despite the unsettling incident.
Ahead of the Women’s World Cup, the England Women’s National Team, known as the Lionesses, have decided to halt discussions regarding bonuses with the Football Association (FA), as stated by their captain Millie Bright (29) on Tuesday.
The team expressed disappointment that the issue remains unresolved.
The dispute between the players and the FA stems from FIFA’s announcement that individual fees for players in the World Cup will be directly paid by the global governing body.
The fees range from $30,000 and can go up to $270,000 for members of the winning team.
The FA’s stance of not offering bonus payments to the England team, in addition to the fees they will receive from FIFA, has become a point of contention leading up to the tournament.
England play their opening World Cup match against Haiti in four days and Bright said they would pause discussions with the FA until after the tournament’s conclusion.
“Last year we presented the FA with concerns relating to our bonus and commercial structures,” she said in a statement on Twitter signed by all the England players. “The hope was that discussions would lead to a solution before the commencement of our World Cup.
“We are disappointed that a resolution has still not been achieved… (and)… with our opening game on the horizon, we Lionesses have decided to pause discussions, with full intentions of revisiting them following the tournament.”
“(The Lionesses) join players from a number of countries at the World Cup who are prepared to make a stand when they don’t think they are being listened to,” PFA chief executive officer Maheta Molango said.
“It’s no coincidence that this is a particular issue for nations where there is no proper Collective Bargaining Agreement in place between players and governing bodies.
“There will always be consequences when players feel they are having to come back issue by issue to push for parity and progress. It doesn’t need to be like this.”
As the ninth World Cup approaches, women’s soccer is experiencing a significant moment of introspection and change.
From the ongoing American campaign against abuse in professional leagues to French players demanding the removal of their coach and Canadian athletes threatening boycotts, the sport is undergoing a much-needed reckoning.
While certain issues are being actively resolved, others may linger, indicating that women’s soccer has reached a point where players are no longer willing to suffer in silence.
The era of remaining silent is now a thing of the past, as athletes increasingly find their voices and speak out against injustices within the sport.
“One hundred percent, I think it’s so prevalent,” said Jonas Baer-Hoffmann, the general secretary of global players union FIFPRO.
“I think it’s more prevalent than it’s ever been in any other sport on a global stage. I don’t think you’ve had this kind of co-ordinated – or uncoordinated – wave of speaking up, standing up, forcing change ever before.”
Speaking up has proved highly successful in some cases.
France will play in Australia and New Zealand with a clean slate under coach Herve Renard, who was hired to replace Corinne Diacre after key players refused to play under her.
Canada captain Christine Sinclair said last week the Olympic champions were “pretty darn close” to a labour agreement that will get them equal treatment with the men.
“It is fascinating to see how social change as a grassroots movement from the players, and from supporters who’ve been around the block for a long time in women’s football, forces the structural change that we’re now seeing at a pace that is rapid,” Baer-Hoffman told Reuters.
Just days before the Women’s World Cup kicks off July 20, however, some teams are still in turmoil.
Spain are without some of their most talented players after a 15-player mutiny unfolded in September over accusations of a toxic environment.
“It will really piss me off not to go to the World Cup,” Barcelona and Spain defender Mapi Leon told reporters in March.
“But my values come first.”
Nigeria have considered boycotting their opening World Cup game over a pay row, while allegations of sexual abuse in the Zambia team set-up surfaced on social media last year and are the subject of investigations by the country’s FA and FIFA.
Baer-Hoffman said England are one of about a dozen teams who are still in negotiations around compensation and prize money, including the minimum $30,000 FIFA will pay each player.
“This generation of players who have grown the game, literally put the game on their backs and gotten it to the point where it’s at now, I think they’re just sick of struggling,” said FIFPRO’s Sarah Gregorius.
“They are the generation that needs to see that fight come to a close so that the ones that come after them will never have to know the struggle.”
The trailblazers in the struggle have been from the United States, where players last year called for an overhaul at the National Women’s Soccer League after a report found that abuse and sexual misconduct spanned multiple teams and coaches.
US Soccer, which failed to put in “basic measures” to safeguard players, according to the report, subsequently said it was introducing a more thorough vetting system for coaches and officials as part of reforms.
The US women also won the Arthur Ashe Award at the ESPYS on Wednesday for the courage they showed in their pay equity battle, settling a lawsuit for $24 million.
Veteran Alex Morgan said last week she and some of her team mates had received their first settlement check in the mail days earlier, which promoted newcomer Naomi Girma to joke that she did not get one.
“And I was like, ‘Be grateful you don’t. You just get equal,’” said Morgan.
While the governance battles rage on among other teams, players have forged strong bonds regardless of what country’s colours they wear, finding allies in each other.
“Obviously all of the teams are using their voices a lot more,” said Megan Rapinoe, who has helped the U.S. to two World Cup titles.
“Players are talking about it and even when they’re subjected to the kind of discrimination and unequal treatment, they’re still speaking out.”
Rapinoe was vocal in supporting Canada’s fight, and the U.S., England and Japan all wore purple wristbands and tape during games earlier in the year in support of that cause.
“It’s been years and years of groundwork and a united voice,” said Rebecca Sowden, who played for New Zealand and is the founder of Team Heroine, a women’s sport marketing and sponsorship consultancy.
“We’ve seen the power of a united voice when all these countries and all these players and all these stakeholders come together,” she added.
“I think that’s the way forward for women’s football, using the collective, using our unique traits, that real community vibe that women’s football experiences that we don’t see in men’s football.”
The world players’ union FIFPRO has emphasized the importance of FIFA ensuring equal conditions for all players participating in the qualification process for the upcoming Women’s World Cup.
In a report published on Tuesday, FIFPRO highlighted significant disparities in the conditions provided during qualification events organized by the six global confederations.
Some of these conditions were deemed subpar and not meeting the standards expected in elite international football.
FIFPRO’s call is for FIFA to address these discrepancies and ensure a level playing field for all players involved in the qualification process.
World Cup qualification should also be a standalone event across all confederations, rather than being achieved via performance in other tournaments such as the Copa America, FIFPRO said.
New payment model guarantees support for every @FIFAWWC team and player
FIFPRO has praised FIFA for “listening to the voice of players” in ensuring that players at the finals in Australia and New Zealand this summer will benefit from the same playing and preparation conditions as their male counterparts did in Qatar last year.
However, it believes it is now vital that conditions are equalised for all female players involved in qualification.
“During qualification the conditions that the players are exposed to and expected to deliver in, during some of the biggest competitive moments of their lives, are not up to the standards of elite international football, putting both the players and the sport at risk,” the foreword to the Qualifying Conditions Report co-signed by FIFPRO president David Aganzo and general secretary Jonas Baer-Hoffmann read.
“In highlighting these conditions and the status of players across the globe, FIFPRO firmly calls on the industry to take a closer look at the qualification processes in each of the six confederations.
“This is so we all can commit to meaningful changes that look at the overall opportunities the FIFA Women’s World Cup can deliver to a greater number of players than those that just appear at the final tournament in July and August this year.”
Fifty four per cent did not receive a pre-tournament medical examination, 70 per cent did not receive a pre-tournament ECG and 39 per cent did not have access to mental health support.
Two-thirds of the players surveyed had to take leave or unpaid leave from another form of employment to participate in these tournaments, the report found.
Thirty-one per cent said training pitches were not of an elite standard, while 32 per cent said match day pitches and stadia were not of an elite standard.
Two-thirds said recovery facilities were either not of an elite standard or not provided at all, while 70 per cent reported that the gym facilities were not of an appropriate level.
“Any stat that’s below 100 per cent in terms of access to important medical checks and things like that is completely unacceptable,” FIFPRO director of global policy and strategic relations for women’s football Sarah Gregorius said.
“We just want to work with whoever wants to work with us, particularly FIFA and the confederations, to understand why that is the case and how that can be prevented (from happening again) because that is certainly not something that should be acceptable to anybody.”
The PA news agency understands the report has been shared with FIFA and the confederations.
FIFA has declined to comment on it directly, but would point to the steps it has taken to close some of the gaps which exist in the women’s game, both in enlarging the World Cup to 32 teams and increasing compensation to players and national associations.
The women’s international calendar was agreed on by all confederations on the FIFA Council after an extensive consultation process, while qualification criteria and tournaments are defined by the confederations rather than FIFA.
FIFA has also sought to improve investment in the women’s game by challenging broadcasters and sponsors, with president Gianni Infantino threatening a World Cup blackout in some countries if broadcasters did not increase their offers for the rights.
A deal with some major European markets, including the United Kingdom, was agreed last week.
In the midst of their ongoing dispute with the national team and coach Jorge Vilda, Spain’s striking players have refuted the claim that they are “rebels,” according to Alexia Putellas.
15 players declared themselves unavailable for selection after Spain’s Women’s World Cup qualification in September, citing the “situation” surrounding La Roja.
There is currently a deadlock before the tournament in July as a result of the RFEF’s decision to stand by Vilda in the face of requests from the striking group for him to be replaced due to concerns for their emotional well-being.
The Barcelona midfielder has vehemently emphasised the opinion of her teammates and rejected the notion that those players are at fault.
“We are not rebels,” she told beIN SPORTS. “It’s exhausting having to constantly claim improvements to perform better. I don’t think you have to put adjectives of this type.
“It is a problem between the players and the federation. Private conversations have been leaked, and this situation does not benefit anyone.
“We want the players to be able to focus one hundred percent on performing. It’s exhausting having to constantly claim upgrades. The leaders should improve our conditions without [us] having to ask all the time.”
Vilda omitted striking players from his squad for the 2023 Cup of Nations, whereLa Roja finished second behind hosts Australia, ahead of a return to the country for the World Cup later this year.
They play friendlies against Norway and China in Ibiza in April, as they step up their preparations for the tournament, where they will hope to be among the contenders.
