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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Andrew Gastelum

Emotional Haka Highlights Women’s World Cup Opening Ceremony in New Zealand

New Zealand World Cup Eden Park Auckland

The Women’s World Cup was given a rousing welcome in New Zealand’s Eden Park with a riveting opening ceremony that featured a traditional haka from a local Māori collective.

Before the World Cup officially kicked off with a match between New Zealand and Norway, the Ngati Whatua Orakei hapū (sub-tribe) performed a ceremonial dance as well as a traditional song as a welcoming gesture to visitors of the ninth edition of the global tournament.

However, the New Zealand national team did not perform a haka before its opening match. According to The Athletic, FIFA does not clear space for a haka as it follows a strict pre-match schedule set in advance. Although in the past, the Football Ferns have performed the dance following major matches. 

The opening ceremony comes after the Spanish women’s national team was at the center of controversy when a video emerged of several players attempting a haka. Spanish captain Ivana Andrés later apologized as Spain met with local Māori leaders after the team was accused of mocking the traditional dance.

The opening ceremony also featured a mesmerizing procession centered around indigenous communities in front of what is expected to be the biggest crowd for a soccer match in New Zealand history. The Māori flag, known as the Tino Rangatiratanga, was raised at Eden Park and will be flown at all four New Zealand venues.

The start of the tournament comes amid heightened security in Auckland after a gunman killed two people and injured six others in a shooting hours before the opening match, which featured a moment of silence before kickoff. 

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