Some of football’s biggest names are arriving in Auckland to help conduct the draw for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup on Saturday night.
These include two-time Women’s World Cup winner Carli Lloyd, Australia’s first-ever captain and two Arsenal legends.
The draw will be broadcast live to the world from the Aotea Centre at 7.30pm.
Main photo: The Aotea Centre will host the draw. Photo: Auckland Live.
FIFA have invited a number of top footballers to participate in the draw.
Listed among the dignitaries to help conduct the draw are:
Carli Lloyd (United States)
Lloyd (40) is a four-time Olympian with two Gold Medals and is a two-time Women’s World Cup winner. She was twice named FIFA Player of the Year.
Amanda Davies (CNN Sports Anchor)
Listed to help with the draw are legendary footballers representing different confederations:
Maia Jackman (Oceania)
Jackman (47) made 50 appearances for the Football Ferns and became a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to football in the 2013 New Year honours.
Julie Dolan (Asia)
The first-ever captain of an Australian women’s team, Dolan (61) made her international debut aged 14. Australia’s Player of the Year is awarded the Julie Dolan Medal.e
Geremi (CAF)
Geremi (43) played 118 internationals for the Cameroon national side, and played for a string of top clubs including Real Madrid, Chelsea and Newcastle United.
Alexi Lalas (CONCACAF)
Lalas (52) played 96 times for the United States and was their standout player at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. He played for top US clubs including Metro Stars, Kansas City Wizards and LA Galaxy.
Gilberto Silva (CONMEBOL)
Silva (46) played 93 times for Brazil and was a World Cup winner in 2002. His clubs include Arsenal, where he played 170 times, and Panathinaikos.
Ian Wright (UEFA)
England international Ian Wright (58) played 228 times for Crystal Palace and 221 games for Arsenal in he played non-league football until the age of 22.
Non-footballing personalities to help with the draw include New Zealand Olympian Zoi Sadowski-Synott and Australian Olympic swim champion Cate Campbell.
The draw
The draw will be made before more than 800 football and media visitors from around the world.
Teams have been seeded on their current FIFA world rankings, except for New Zealand and Australia who go into Pot 1 as co-hosts of the tournament.
New Zealand’s Football Ferns will be in Group A of the tournament.
Groups C, E and G will be hosted in New Zealand.
The two biggest drawcard for match attendances are expected to be champions United States and EURO champions England.
Except for European teams, teams from the same confederation can not be drawn in the same group.
Pot 1: New Zealand, Australia, United States, Sweden, Germany, England, France, Spain
Pot 2: Canada, Netherlands, Brazil, Japan, Norway, Italy, China, South Korea
Pot 3: Denmark, Switzerland, Republic of Ireland, Colombia, Argentina, Vietnam, Costa Rica, Jamaica
Pot 4: Nigeria, Philippines, South Africa, Morocco, Zambia, playoff winner A, playoff winner B, playoff winner C.
How to buy tickets
READ MORE: Tickets now on sale for 2023 Women’s World Cup and intercontinental play-off series >>>>
READ MORE: 29 countries now confirmed qualifiers for FIFA Women’s World Cup >>>>
Volunteers needed
Applications are open for volunteers who want to help make next February’s FIFA Women’s World Cup play-off tournament a success in Auckland and Hamilton. The tournament will decide the last three teams to qualify for the Women’s World Cup.
The volunteers will help at the stadia, training sites, hotels, Auckland Airport and transport hubs.
For more information and to apply online, go to:
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