New Zealand marks 1 month to Women’s World Cup with match near Mount Cook

New Zealand marks a month’s countdown to the start of the Women’s World Cup by creating a large football field in the remote southern highlands of the South Island, in the shadow of New Zealand’s highest mountain, Aoraki Mount Cook.

Two teams of local girls, named Pukaki and Tekapo after pristine mountain lakes nearby, were invited to play the first friendly on the field on Tuesday, under the guidance of New Zealand Football National Referee Development Manager Lindsey Robinson.

“I came here today to referee the game in the most beautiful place on earth,” said Robinson. “Apart from the beautiful scenery, it was a great football game.

“I’m incredibly excited about so many visitors coming to New Zealand to enjoy the game and enjoy this beautiful part of the world.”

Tourism New Zealand worked with local indigenous Maori and the Department of Conservation to ensure the project was carried out in a way that respected mana whenua (the rights of New Zealand’s indigenous people) and had no lasting impact on the land .

The field was created over six weeks, adhering to strict environmental and sustainability principles with a “tread lightly” philosophy to ensure the land could be returned to its natural state.

The match between Pukaki and Tekapo ended in a 1-1 draw.

Eight-year-old Immy Ivey was amazed to be able to play under Aoraki Mount Cook.

“It’s cool to play football in the mountains because when you score a goal you can see the big mountains instead of just grass, which is nice for a change,” said Ivey.

New Zealand and Australia will jointly host the Women’s World Cup, which kicks off on July 20 and features 32 teams. The final will take place on August 20 in Sydney.