Praneeta Mahajan
Hamilton, June 7, 2023
FIFA Women’s World Cup is just around the corner and the excitement is palpable with many families already making plans to cheer for their favourite teams and securing tickets for the matches.
As a start to the gaming season, the FIFA Women’s World Cup Original Trophy is heading to Hamilton before setting off on its ‘tiki tour’ around the Waikato and Bay of Plenty as part of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Trophy Tour. The Trophy is scheduled to appear in six different locations on its four-day trip.
Highlighting the meaning and essence of a ‘tiki tour,’ where you take the scenic route or long way to get to a destination, akin to taking a scenic tour of an area, the trophy will also take a tour of the greater Waikato area, meet many young minds and witness what makes New Zealand a perfect host country.
World tour before the World Cup
The Trophy Tour is ‘Going Beyond’ to inspire people of all ages, build excitement and support ahead of the five FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 matches in Hamilton, which start when Zambia take on Japan on July 22, 2023.
Since the start of its worldwide tour in February, the Trophy has now visited all 32 qualified nations, making it the largest FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy Tour to date. It will now stay in the two host countries until the new world champions are crowned on Sunday, August 20, 2023.
Inspiring communities+
The Trophy will also make regional visits throughout the host city tour, ensuring that communities outside of the city, in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions, also have an opportunity to be inspired and excited ahead of the tournament. A mixture of public and private events have been organised around Hamilton and the wider region including a panel of inspirational women; including Football Fern Michaela Foster and FIFA referee Sarah Jones, both taking the stage to talk about the changing dynamics of women in sport.
The Trophy will make appearances at:
Saturday 17 June – Mystery Creek at the Hyundai Stand for the Fieldays 2023.
Sunday 18 June – Tauranga, Fergusson Park
Monday 19 June – Rotorua for a private school event.
Monday 19 June – at Taupō Lake Front.
Tuesday 20 June – Cambridge for a private school event.
Tuesday 20 Jun – Hamilton, Kaute Pasifika Fale (limited spaces available)
FIFA Legend, former German national player and FIFA Women’s World Cup winner, Babett Peter, will appear as a special guest during the final day of the tour in Cambridge and Hamilton.
Speaking ahead of her appearance, Ms Peter said it would be an unmissable event in New Zealand.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many in New Zealand to not only get up close to the original trophy but to experience the magic of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The public viewings will offer the mighty Waikato a fantastic opportunity to experience the most coveted prize in women’s football.”
Tickets for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 matches in Hamilton are on sale now at FIFA.com/hamiltontickets
Praneeta Mahajan is an Indian Newslink reporter based in Hamilton.
