The FIFA Under 17 World Championship New Zealand 1999 is attracting a great deal of attention from the national and international media as well as from TV Broadcasters around the world.

Some 200 international and domestic media representatives are covering the 8th edition of FIFA’s youngest age group competition. In the traditional rugby country of New Zealand, spectators are showing an appreciable interest in youth football. For the opening match on Wednesday, November 10, despite constant rain, more than 14’000 turned up in Auckland’s North Harbour Stadium to witness the New Zealand – USA encounter. USA won by 2:1.

Television rights have been sold to more than 60 countries. This includes 17 matches live in the United States, 16 live or delayed in France, 20 in Spain, 22 delayed in Russia, seven delayed on Sky in Britain, 16 in the Caribbean countries, and all 32 in countries including Hong Kong, Thailand, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, the Gulf countries and Uruguay.

In the host country New Zealand, all the matches are shown in full, most of them live, on Sky Television, on one channel or the other plus 17 matches on Prime Television. Two global news services will broadcast short footage to territories all over the world.

The FIFA U-17 World Championship in New Zealand 99 comprises a total of 32 matches with the finals to be played on November 27 in Auckland.