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Marty Melville

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — A <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/07/19/new-zealand-shooting-auckland-fifa-world-cup/" target="_blank">city and country shaken by gun violence early Thursday</a> poured its collective heart that evening into the New Zealand women’s national soccer team, into those wonderfully named Football Ferns and into the start of the World Cup.

Sports can have cathartic effects, and on this night, Hannah Wilkinson and the Ferns wrapped their arms around their enchanting island nation.

Wilkinson’s goal early in the second half provided <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/womens-world-cup-scores-standings-schedule/" target=_blank>not only a 1-0 upset over Norway</a> in the tournament opener but also some joy on a dark day. Additionally, it marked the first World Cup victory in New Zealand history following 12 defeats and three draws.

Women's World Cup 2023: Landing Page

See full coverage of the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/womens-world-cup-2023/" target=_blank>FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023</a>.

“It meant so much for all of us,” said defender Ali Riley, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/07/17/ali-riley-soccer-new-zealand-womens-world-cup/" target=_blank>the team’s California-born captain</a>. “We put so much pressure on ourselves because it wasn’t just about winning a game. This is about inspiring our entire country and, with what happened this morning, trying to do something positive and to honor the first responders. That’s a lot and I felt like we did it.”

Afterward, prime ministers current (Chris Hipkins) and former (Jacinda Ardern) celebrated with the Ferns in the locker room.

The country had waited years for the opportunity to co-host the World Cup with Australia. It was supposed to be a day to celebrate its moment on the global stage, to revel in the launch of the tournament at the country’s national stadium (known for rugby, not soccer) and christen the biggest competition in women’s sports history.

But some 12 hours before the first of 64 matches over 32 days, a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/07/19/new-zealand-shooting-auckland-fifa-world-cup/" target="_blank">deadly shooting</a> in the central business district cast a pall over the festivities at Eden Park.

The incident, which was unrelated to the tournament, took place at a construction site steps from the Norwegian team’s hotel. Two people were killed and 10 wounded, including a police officer. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/07/19/new-zealand-shooting-auckland-fifa-world-cup/" target="_blank">The gunman was found dead after a standoff with police</a>.

The location of the shooting was about three miles north of the stadium. As a precaution, security measures were heightened around the venue, which welcomed 42,137 spectators, a record for a New Zealand women’s home match. The previous mark was 12,508 for a friendly against the United States early this year.

Ali Riley, the California-born co-captain of New Zealand, welcomes the world

Earlier in the day, FIFA President Gianni Infantino spoke with Hipkins and later met with Grant Robertson, the minister for sport and recreation, to discuss security arrangements.

The opening ceremony proceeded as planned with performances celebrating the indigenous Maori culture and the 32 participating teams, the largest field since the women’s World Cup was founded in 1991. Fireworks were launched, and the World Cup trophy was brought onto the field.

Rafaela Pontes

The festive mood then turned somber with a moment of silence remembering the victims of a shooting that shook a city and nation where gun-related violence is uncommon. Players for each team lined up on the center circle and draped their arms over each other’s shoulders. The respective national flags flew at half-staff on the cool, breezy night.

“What happened this morning was devastating, and it’s news no one wants to wake up to,” defender C.J. Bott said.

The victory Thursday night was a breakthrough for New Zealand’s program, which only once has advanced out of the group stage at the World Cup or <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics" target="_blank" class="contextual_link">Olympics</a>. In a rugby-mad country, soccer — and particularly women’s soccer — has always taken a back seat.

“I really believe this World Cup will open up a lot of passion” in soccer, said Jitka Klimkova, the Czech-born coach who formerly led U.S. youth national teams. “We want to keep inspiring with those performances like tonight. Having the win in our pocket is some bonus that came with very good performance. This is just the beginning.”

When the final whistle sounded, many players were in tears.

“For people who showed up tonight, to see the way we performed and fought, the resilience of this team … that is the kind of performance we wanted to show,” Riley said. “That’s who we are, and that is how we can inspire young girls. That is how we can make our nation proud and hopefully change the sporting culture in this country.”

The Ferns held their own in the first half against No. 12 Norway, which featured players from top European clubs, including Olympique Lyonnais star Ada Hegerberg. They weren’t rattled by pressure and created several promising opportunities, though without testing Norwegian goalkeeper Aurora Mikalsen.

Their confidence grew in the second half. They needed less than three minutes to take the lead with a stunning end-to-end foray, culminating with Jacqui Hand crossing to Wilkinson for a six-yard one-timer.

Andrew Cornaga

Teammates on the field and on the bench rushed to the former University of Tennessee star celebrating in the corner.

New Zealand wasn’t satisfied. Moments later, Indiah-Paige Riley forced Mikalsen to make a soaring save on an 18-yard attempt. Norway was in trouble.

The equalizer almost came in the 81st minute, but goalkeeper Victoria Esson touched Tuva Hansen’s 22-yarder off the crossbar.

New Zealand received a penalty kick in the closing moments, when Hansen blocked Bott’s cross with her hand at the edge of the box. However, Ria Percival smashed her attempt off the crossbar.

Nine minutes of stoppage time came and went. A stadium, a city and a country rejoiced.

Said Wilkinson, “I’d like to think women’s football made an impression in this country.”

<i>Rachel Pannett contributed to this report, which has been updated.</i>

Inducted into the Virginia DC Soccer Hall of Fame, 2013

Three-time APSE finalist

Society of Professional Journalists' Dateline Awards, first place, 2023

American University, BA in print journalism, 1988

Steven Goff has covered soccer for The Washington Post since the early 1990s. His beats include D.C. United, MLS and the U.S. national teams. He has been on assignment at every men's World Cup since 1994, plus six Women's World Cups for 14 overall.

Steven Goff

New Zealand beats Norway to open women's World Cup, hours after Auckland shooting

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