The FIFA Women’s World Cup has kicked off in New Zealand. Held every four years, the event showcases talent from 32 countries—making it the largest women’s sporting event in the world. We’re stoked to have a (literal) front-row seat with matches held in Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, and Hamilton.
And while we totally respect footy might not be in your DNA, that’s no reason to shy away from the fun. Exciting football aside, the festivities also showcase music, entertainment, culture, food, and good times a plenty! Read on to discover how to embrace the FIFA Women's World Cup (and don’t be surprised if you find yourself engulfed in the on-field action too!).
Get Among The Buzzing Atmosphere At The FIFA Fan Festival
If you’re all about the good vibes, head down to the FIFA Fan Festival. Each host city has its own venue where you can catch the matches live on the big screen. Better yet, it’s a chance to soak up the lively atmosphere and participate in a vibrant entertainment lineup. Aucklanders can head down to The Cloud on match days from July 20 to August 20. Wellingtonians can party on Queens Wharf from July 20 to August 11. Further south, Dunedin gets a slice of the action at the Dunedin Town Hall and Glenroy Auditorium on selected days from July 20 to 30. Finally, Hamilton hosts a jam-packed four-day event at Claudelands Events Centre from July 20 to 23. Each FIFA Fan Festival is free to attend and for all ages. We’ll see you there!
Hear Trailblazing Women Take The Mic At EQUALIZE
This is one mark in your diary. EQUALIZE is a free-entry equity discussion series that celebrates epic women doing epic things. The trailblazing women span a diverse range of specialities, including sport, business, culture, and society. Speakers include Dame Jacinda Ardern, Natalie Portman, Helen Clark, Fatma Samoura, and Dame Valerie Adams–what an incredible line-up, right?! The remarkable women share their personal and professional experiences of equity and inequity, discuss how far we’ve come, and explore a more equitable future. Check out the speakers and events in your nearest city here.
Groove To New Zealand’s Best Musicians
Love live music? Some of New Zealand’s best musicians will grace the stage at the FIFA Fan Festival. The line-up differs in each city with full details here. Don’t miss out on live performances from the likes of Ladi6, Hollie Smith, Ladyhawke, Bic Runga, Troy Kingi, and Che Fu. In addition, the Auckland and Wellington venues are putting female artists centre stage with unmissable wahine-only showcases. Check it out in The Capital on July 23 and Auckland on August 12.
Have A LOL At Comedy Showcases
The laughs keep on coming with comedy showcases across the country. In Auckland, head to The Cloud on August 16 for the Laugh Club Comedy Night. Four comedians take the mic for a stand-up set followed by a ‘Laugh Island’ game show. All the deets can be found here. Wellington is also hosting a comedy night headlined by award-winning comedian Kura Turuwhenua on August 2. In Dunedin, head to the Town Hall on July 30 for a showcase featuring the Topp Twins and a Kiwi-esque tribute to Swiss yodelling. Needless to say, this event has us very intrigued–don’t miss it.
Eat Your Way Around The World
Speaking of all things food, celebrate the participating countries by exploring their local cuisine. Expand your palette by trying dishes from the 32 countries participating in the FIFA Women's World Cup. Eat your way around local eateries or recreate the country’s signature dishes at home. From Vietnamese pho to Jamaican jerk chicken, your taste buds are in for a culinary adventure to all corners of the globe.
Join In A Street Party
When game day rolls around, join the party with The Last Mile. In Auckland, the streets around Eden Park come to life ahead of kick-off with a carnival of live performers and entertainment. Auckland’s unique diversity is celebrated with Māori kapa haka, Spanish flamenco dancers, African drummers, and even digital dancers donning LED suits. The Last Mile festivities will also connect the Octagon to Dunedin Stadium for Netherlands vs Portugal (July 23) and New Zealand vs Switzerland (July 30). The latter is guaranteed to be a doozy with entertainment including fire performers, drummers, and the live creation of a mural.
Get On The Pitch Yourself!
Prefer to bend it like Beckham and have a kick-around of your own? If you’re based in Auckland, get your friends together and book the vibrant Unity Pitch. The futsal-size astroturf is a fully covered space for all ages and abilities to train and play. It’s free to make an hour-long pitch booking here.
Catch The Action At Your Local Stadium
There’s something magic about watching a live game unfold before your very eyes. Nab tickets for a match at your local stadium and lean into the infectious spirit of the event. The jam-packed match schedule includes nine matches each at Auckland’s Eden Park and Wellington Regional Stadium. There are also seven matches at Dunedin Stadium and five at Waikato Stadium. Our advice? Choose a team to support, don the country’s colours, and treat yourself to some of those classic stadium doughnuts. We guarantee you’ll be hollering support from the stands.
Football fan or not, there are plenty of ways to embrace the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Check out the FIFA Fan Festival in your nearest city or get match passes to cheer from the sidelines as the teams go head-to-head to be crowned world champs. The full match schedule and ticket information can be found here.
Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by FIFA Women’s World Cup and proudly endorsed by The Urban List. To find out more about who we work with and why read our editorial policy here.