Today marks 50 days to the kickoff of the most anticipated FIFA Women’s World Cup – and as we wait for the start, the World Cup Trophy Tour is on its final leg, after a global trip spanning four months and 30 countries that will take part in the tournament.
From Thursday (1 June 2023) the prized trophy will visit the two remaining nations – hosts Australia and New Zealand, starting off in Auckland (Australia).
This is the largest and longest trophy tour to be held as there are 32 qualified countries.
The journey started in February this year, making its first stop in Japan (25 – 26 February) before crisscrossing continents, visiting all the nations which will play in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
On the African continent, four countries got to get up close and personal with the trophy, making a stop at the following cities:
- Rabat, Morocco, 20 March
- Johannesburg, South Africa, 22-23 March
- Lusaka, Zambia, 24 March
- Abuja, Nigeria, 26 March
After departing Africa, the entourage headed to South America, then passed through the likes of the USA, Haiti, Canada, Jamaica on its way to Europe where it spent about a month (29 April – 24 May).
The first stop was the headquarters of football in Zurich, Switzerland and continued to countries like Germany, Sweden, Republic of Ireland and rounded off their European sojourn in Portugal.
- Zurich, Switzerland, 29 April
- Geneva, Switzerland, 1 May
- Berlin, Germany , 2-3 May
- Copenhagen, Denmark, 4 May
- Gothenburg, Sweden, 6-7 May
- Oslo, Norway, 8 May
- Dublin, Republic of Ireland, 10 May
- London, England, 13-14 May
- Venice, Italy, 16 May
- The Hague, Netherlands, 18 May
- Paris, France, 20-21 May
- Madrid, Spain, 22 May
- Lisbon, Portugal, 24 May
For the remaining leg of the tour, the trophy will visit all nine Host Cities, as the whole world awaits the start of the tournament on 20 July 2023. The final will be played a month later (Sunday, 20 August).
“Host Cities will provide opportunities for the public to view the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ Trophy, allowing them to experience the excitement first-hand.
Importantly, the Trophy will also make several regional visits throughout the host county tour, ensuring that communities outside of major metropolitan centres also have an opportunity to be inspired and excited by the Trophy and tournament,” said FIFA.com in a statement.
Trophy Tour stops in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia:
Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau: 1 – 5 June
Sydney/Gadigal: 8 – 12 June
Melbourne/Naarm: 14 – 16 June
Hamilton/Kirikiriroa: 17 – 20
June Dunedin/Ōtepoti: 22 – 25
June Brisbane/Meaanjin: 28 June – 1 July
Adelaide/Tarntanya: 2 – 4
July Perth/Boorloo: 7 – 10 July
Wellington/Te Whanganui-a-Tara: 12 – 14 July
“The FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy Tour has created a sense of unity throughout its journey, showcasing the power of sport in bringing people together. Women and girls have been inspired by the arrival of the Trophy in their home cities, and now finally, it is going to arrive in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia. The host nations will do a fantastic job in continuing to spread the Trophy Tour’s theme of #GoingBeyond and celebrating the participation of women and girls in our beautiful game,” said FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura.
For more information visit FIFA.com/trophytour.
COMPLETE TROPHY TOUR ITENERARY:
- Tokyo, Japan,25-26 February
- Seoul, Korea Republic, 27 February
- Manila, Philippines, 1-2 March
- Hanoi , Vietnam, 4-5 March
- Shanghai, China PR, 9-11 March
- Rabat, Morocco, 20 March
- Johannesburg, South Africa, 22-23 March
- Lusaka, Zambia, 24 March
- Abuja, Nigeria, 26 March
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 29-30 March
- Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1 April
- Cali, Colombia, 3 April
- San Jose, Costa Rica, 5 April
- Panama City, Panama, 8 April
- Saint Louis, USA, 11 April
- New York City, USA, 12-13 April
- Port-au-Prince TBC, Haiti, 15 April
- Kingston, Jamaica, 17 April
- Toronto, Canada, 19-20 April
- Zurich, Switzerland, 29 April
- Geneva, Switzerland, 1 May
- Berlin, Germany , 2-3 May
- Copenhagen, Denmark, 4 May
- Gothenburg, Sweden, 6-7 May
- Oslo, Norway, 8 May
- Dublin, Republic of Ireland, 10 May
- London, England, 13-14 May
- Venice, Italy, 16 May
- The Hague, Netherlands, 18 May
- Paris, France, 20-21 May
- Madrid, Spain, 22 May
- Lisbon, Portugal, 24 May
- Auckland, New Zealand, 2-4 June
- Sydney, Australia, 8-12 June
- Melbourne, Australia, 14-16 June
- Hamilton, New Zealand, 17-20 June
- Dunedin, New Zealand, 22-25 June
- Brisbane, Australia, 28 June to 1 July
- Adelaide, Australia, 2-4 July
- Perth, Australia, 7-10 July
- Wellington, New Zealand, 12-14 July
Tickets for the FIFA Women’s World Cup are on sale now from FIFA.com/tickets.
By Matlhomola Morake
