FIFA President Gianni Infantino has held constructive discussions with a delegation from the New Zealand government led by Rt Hon Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who was joined by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Sport, Grant Robertson, and members from the Australian administration including Anika Wells, the Minister for Sport, several hours in advance of the Final Draw for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™️ which is being held in Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau. The discussions, which focused on the organisation of the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup, where Aoteroa/New Zealand will host four of the ten venues, also touched the long-term need to develop women’s football globally.

“The FIFA Women’s World Cup will change lives, not just for players, but for fans captivated in stadiums and at home,” Anika Wells, the Australian Minister for Sport said. “It was a pleasure to attend today’s meeting and discuss how we can ensure next year’s World Cup leaves a lasting legacy for fans and helps women pursue their football dreams. I thank FIFA President Gianni Infantino, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Minister for Sport and Recreation Grant Robertson for helping bring the Women’s World Cup to the southern hemisphere for the first time.” “FIFA appreciates the support that Prime Minister Ardern, her government and the people of New Zealand have shown towards this tournament,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “We have received the warmest possible welcome, and I am sure that New Zealand will embrace the FIFA Women’s World Cup, not only in 2023, but beyond thanks to the difference it will make to so many lives. This tournament, which features 32 teams for the first time, is the biggest global women’s football competition that has ever been staged, and FIFA looks forward to an ongoing close cooperation with both the governments of Australia and New Zealand in the months ahead.”

“Both Prime Minister Ardern and Australian Minister for Sport Wells recognise the important role that sport, and football in particular, plays in society,” the FIFA President added. “We discussed how FIFA has supported the development of women’s football before, during and after the coronavirus pandemic, and we outlined our commitment to the long-term development of our sport, not only in this region, but across the globe.” The Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand and the Australian Minister for Sport were accompanied by Her Excellency Harinder Sidhu, the Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand, as well as other members of their respective administrations. Other participants in the meeting included Lambert Maltock, FIFA Vice-President and Oceania Football Confederation President, Johanna Wood, New Zealand Football President and FIFA Council Member, Chris Nikou, Football Australia Chairman, Fatma Samoura, FIFA Secretary General, Mattias Grafström, FIFA Deputy Secretary General – Football, Sarai Bareman, FIFA Chief Women’s Football Officer, Dave Beeche, CEO of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™️ and Carolyn Tremain, Chief Executive of New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™️ opens on 20 July 2023 at Eden Park in Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau, with other matches in Aoteroa/New Zealand set to be staged in Dunedin/Ōtepoti, Hamilton/Kirikiriroa and Wellington/Te Whanganui-a-Tara.