Women's World Cup 2023: Deadly Auckland shooting 'overshadows' start of World Cup

Just hours before Auckland was set to host the opening match of the Women’s World Cup, the city was shaken by news of a deadly shooting, casting a shadow over what was meant to be a day of celebration.

The incident occurred in the center of New Zealand’s largest city, close to where hundreds of football supporters were gathering at a fan park. Tragically, two people were killed, and six others were injured.

Fifa was informed that the shooting was an isolated incident, and they confirmed that the match between New Zealand and Norway at Eden Park would proceed as planned.

The Women’s World Cup is being hailed as the biggest women’s sports event ever staged, drawing people from around the world to New Zealand for the start of the tournament.

Jacob Johnson, a reporter for 1 News in Auckland, expressed his disbelief, saying, “The fact that it happened on a day meant to be a huge celebration for New Zealand is just shocking. The Women’s World Cup was supposed to be a significant win for women’s sport, something we are really trying to promote in New Zealand. It’s unfortunate that this incident will likely dominate the headlines for days. I hope organizers won’t let it completely overshadow the event, as the Women’s World Cup is a significant moment for New Zealand.”

The shooting took place on a construction site in the central business district at 07:22 local time. The gunman was declared dead after the attack, which is not considered an act of terrorism.

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown reassured that all Fifa personnel and football teams were safe and accounted for.

Fifa released a statement expressing their deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims and offering thoughts and prayers to those injured in the tragic incident. They confirmed being in constant contact with the affected teams.

This Women’s World Cup involves a record 32 teams and will be held in Australia and New Zealand over the next four weeks. Auckland is hosting nine of the 64 games.

Despite the somber incident, fans and players remain hopeful that the tournament will still be a success. Many visitors from around the world, like Sonia Orvaz from California and Canada fan Cherry Andrews, expressed sadness over the shooting but remain optimistic that it won’t deter people from enjoying the Women’s World Cup and celebrating the sport they love.