By Mark Baber
August 16 – The host cities and stadiums for the FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015 have been announced with matches being hosted on both the North and South islands in seven venues.
Stadiums used will be in Auckland (North Harbour Stadium), Christchurch (Christchurch Stadium), Wellington (Wellington Regional Stadium), Dunedin (Otago Stadium), Hamilton (Waikato Stadium), New Plymouth (Stadium Taranaki), and Whangarei (Northland Event Centre).
North Harbour Stadium in Auckland will host a quarter-final, a semi-final, the third-place play-off and the final. Christchurch will see six pool matches, a Round of 16 clash, a quarter-final, and the other semi-final.
The capital Wellington hosts the most mathes (nine) matches including six pool games, a Round of 16 double-header and a quarter-final. Hamilton hosts eight matches including six pool matches, a Round of 16 match and a quarter-final. Dunedin Stadium, renamed Otago Stadium for the tournament, will be hosting seven matches including a Round of 16 match. New Plymouth will host five pool matches and a Round of 16 clash and Whangarei will host four matches including three pool matches and a Round of 16 match.
The FIFA U-20 World Cup is FIFA’s second-biggest men’s tournament and will be held from 30 May to 21 June 2015.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter said: “New Zealand hosted the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 1999 and the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2008 and enjoys a proud history of successfully hosting FIFA events. Bringing the FIFA U-20 World Cup to this sports-loving country will for sure enhance the image and popularity of the beautiful game in New Zealand. The Host Cities play an essential role in delivering a FIFA competition and I am pleased to see that football fans in cities across the whole country will have the chance to become a part of it.”
FIFA are forecasting 9,000 foreign visitors, including officials and media, will travel to New Zealand for the tournament with a total attendance of 500,000 expected. Attendances at the this year’s edition of the championship in Turkey were disappointing though TV coverage was good. The 52 matches of the New Zealand tournament will be broadcast to over 100 counties, with a TV audience of 170 million forecast.
Dave Beeche, CEO of the LOC for FIFA U-20 World Cup 2015, said: “To have seven stunning venues locked in nearly two years out from the first match gives us a great planning time-frame and we’ll use all of it to ensure that a stand-out event is delivered.
“This tournament has a huge global following and that’s the opportunity we have with this event – to deliver exposure for New Zealand and host regions both directly during the tournament and via a massive international television audience.”
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