Most of the 24 football teams have arrived in New Zealand for the tournament that will be played out in seven host cities from 30 May – 20 June. FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015 kicks off on Saturday, 30 May, with New Zealand taking on the Ukraine at Auckland’s North Harbour Stadium.
Broadcast to more than 100 countries, with a global reach of around 170 million people, the FIFA U-20 World Cup will also help promote New Zealand to the world. Thousands of overseas football fans are expected to travel to the country in support of their team.
The German U-20 football team arrived in the South Island city of Christchurch on Wednesday (27.05.15) where they will be hoping to emulate the heroics of the men’s senior side that won the FIFA World Cup in Brazil 2014.
The team were treated to a traditional Māori welcome on arrival into Christchurch International Airport – the gateway to the splendours of New Zealand’s South Island – with their captain, Kevin Akpoguma experiencing a traditional Māori hongi (Māori greeting).
Germany will kick off their FIFA U-20 World Cup campaign against Oceania hopefuls Fiji at Christchurch Stadium on Monday, 1 June (NZT).
The European footballers will play all their group games in the ‘Garden City’ of Christchurch.
