August Newsletter

Teams to be entertained in Christchurch

With the last few teams qualifying to compete in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and less than three months until the tournament, excitement is mounting in Christchurch and throughout the South Island about hosting these young athletes.

Costa Rica, Ghana, and Nigeria are the latest teams to be announced as being hosted in the city during the tournament, joining Germany, Korea DPR, Paraguay, Japan, and Brazil.

Michael Aitken, General Manager of Community Services for the Christchurch City Council, couldn’t be more pleased about the diversity and calibre of the teams to visit the Garden City.

“We’re very excited to have Costa Rica making their first FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance in Christchurch. No one knows exactly what to expect from them as far as playing style or tactics go, and that should make for some very exciting matches,” says Aitken.

Plans are quickly coming together for all the events that will be held for the teams while they are in the city. Everyone from the Mayor and the City Council to football clubs and community organisations are coming together to make the teams feel welcome in Christchurch. 

One of the first events for the athletes will be an official City Welcome ceremony, which will be hosted at the International Antarctic Centre.

The teams will have the facility all to themselves, where they can view the gallery and aquarium, plus enjoy a ride on a Hagglund – the all-terrain vehicles used in Antarctica. 

“We’re looking forward to showing off the very best our city has to offer to these teams who come from every corner of the globe,” says Mr Aitken.

“A chance to compete at the inaugural FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and it’s an honour for Christchurch to be a part of that.”


 Teams will get a chance to ride the all-terrain vehicle
 Hagglund at Christchurch's International Antarctic Centre