The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 began with a glittering opening ceremony in Auckland on Thursday.
The 10-minute ceremony showcased both New Zealand and Australia's indigenous heritage and culture, with Māori and First Nations dancers and singers also making an appearance.
Australian musician Mallrat, along with New Zealand's Benee, sang this year's official FIFA World Cup song ‘Do It Again’.
Here is the opening ceremony of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in pictures:
The ninth edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup will include 64 matches with New Zealand facing Norway in the tournament opener today at Eden Park in Auckland before co-hosts Australia face the Republic of Ireland in front of 80,000 fans in Sydney.
This will be the first FIFA Women's football World Cup to have two host nations.
Matches will be held at 10 stadiums — Lang Park, Hindmarsh Stadium, Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Perth Oval, Stadium Australia, Sydney Football Stadium, Dunedin Stadium, Eden Park, Waikato Stadium and Wellington Regional Stadium.
There will be a round-robin format in the group stage when each of the 32 teams play three matches each. The top two in each group will progress to the round of 16. The knockout rounds begin on August 5 and the final will take place on Sunday, August 20 at Stadium Australia in Sydney.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino urged fans to "seize the moment" Wednesday and snap up the remaining Women´s World Cup tickets.
"My only message that I want to get out here is seize the moment, be proud of what you have been able to achieve here, in New Zealand, in Australia," Infantino told reporters in Auckland.
"Be proud of what will be the biggest event — not just sports event — that has been organised here so far," he added.