Otago and Canterbury fans have their chance to see the original FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy — in the company of legendary footballer Kristine Lilly — as it tours the South Island.
The trophy will be at several events in Dunedin between Thursday June 22 and Sunday June 25, before it heads to Canterbury.
READ MORE: Trophy to be on tour in Dunedin at a range of community events >>>>
On Monday June 26, a Trophy Tour Breakfast will be held at the Town Hall, Christchurch, with a range of speakers including FIFA Legend Kristine Lilly, Beyond Greatness Champion and former Football Fern Maia Jackman, Gemma McCaw (former Black Stick), Melissa Ruscoe (former Football Fern and Black Fern), Ged Robinson (rugby coach) and Todd Astle (Black Cap).
Kristine Lilly holds football’s all-time record for the most number of international games and match minutes played.
She played 354 games over 23 years with the United States national team, scoring 130 goals and making 105 assists.
A double Olympic gold medalist, her career includes five FIFA Women’s World Cups and three Olympic Games.
She was inducted into the US Olympic Hall of Fame in 2012 and the US Soccer Hall of Fame in 2014.
Before that, she won four national championships at The University of North Carolina.
After retirement, Kristine served as an assistant coach with the University of Texas Women’s Soccer Team from 2014 to 2017.
She now runs the Kristine Lilly Soccer Academy (KLSA), serves as an Ambassador for the U.S Soccer Foundation, and speaks to corporations, universities, and soccer programmes around the country.
