The FIFA Womens World Cup 2023 kicks off in New Zealand and Australia on July 20th and runs until the Final is played in Sydney on August 20th. This year’s tournament is being jointly hosted by New Zealand and Australia and will welcome teams from 32 countries, along with football fans around the world.
Photo: Auckland Airport
On Friday Auckland Airport (AKL) unveiled its new-look International Arrivals area, replete with a grandstand and mock football pitch to welcome players and fans visiting Auckland and New Zealand for the tournament. The matches are being shared around both countries, with New Zealand hosting games in Auckland, Dunedin, Wellington and Hamilton, while Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney will do likewise in Australia.
A boost for airports and airlines in the region
A month-long global tournament of this stature will attract thousands of fans and the airports and airlines in Australasia, such as Air New Zealand and Qantas, are gearing up to make the most of this event. New Zealand expects to welcome more than 30,000 visitors arriving for the event, including more than 20,000 from North America, with both the United States and Canada among the 32 finalists.
Photo: Mehdi Photos I Shutterstock.
Auckland Airport chief customer officer Scott Tasker said on Friday that the airport wanted to give players and fans a warm Kiwi welcome and “create a moment that resembles walking out of a player’s tunnel and onto the pitch.”
“Auckland Airport is the main gateway to New Zealand, and we have a unique opportunity to make a special first impression – Kiwi style.
“Welcoming sports heroes to Tamaki Makaurau Auckland is something we’ve been really looking forward to, so we’re showing our support for this global women’s sporting tournament by creating an arrivals experience like no other. We can’t wait to see the teams start to arrive from next week and the community enjoying the space.”
The first thing players and fans will see is a giant ‘Game On!’ welcome sign painted on the grass at the Eastern end of the runway, spanning 80 x 40 meters (87 x 44 yards). This is reviving the theme that the airport used when it painted ‘Kia Ora’ (Greetings) to welcome back visitors when travel reopened post-COVID in May 2022.
A big-game welcome in AKL
The football pitch in the arrivals hall will be 22 x 17 meters (24 x 19 yards) and fans can wait in the grandstand to welcome their favorite teams to New Zealand. People will be encouraged to fly their flag by using a dedicated tablet they can select their favorite team flag as a backdrop on an animated screen for their personalized photo.
Photo: Auckland Airport
Apart from the Women’s World Cup, Auckland Airport is expecting larger than usual crowds due to Rugby competitions involving the New Zealand All Blacks. Tasker said the airport will be seeing more travelers during the end of July and into August than on some of its busiest days during the school holidays.
“This will largely be due to the sporting events at this time of year, being the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 and the All Blacks playing in the Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship and the Bledisloe Cup.”
Will you be traveling to New Zealand or Australia for the FIFA Women’s World Cup? Let us know in the comments.