New Zealand ready to host ‘festival of football’
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Football fans around the world keen to catch some of the biggest rising stars in world football can start planning their trip to watch the ‘beautiful game’ in one of the world’s most beautiful countries after the match schedule for the FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015 was unveiled.
The biggest celebration of world football ever to hit New Zealand will kick-off with an opening ceremony at Auckland’s North Harbour Stadium - the official home of New Zealand football - on Saturday 30 May 2015, followed by the opening clash featuring the New Zealand U-20 team.
Dave Beeche, CEO, FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015, unveiled the match schedule on a glorious day in Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city. Seven cities from the North Island and South Island of New Zealand have been chosen to host games, giving visitors a chance to experience a range of adventures and landscapes across New Zealand.
Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, New Plymouth and Wellington on the North Island will host games, while Christchurch and Dunedin will represent the sport-loving South. The schedule sees four pool games played in two of the seven host cities daily - with plenty of double-header football action to whet the sporting appetite.
"This is a unique programme of matches and one which we believe will cater for every audience," Beeche said.