The Latest Breaking News from Auckland

AUCKLAND, New. Zealand — Not since the earliest years of the U.S. women's soccer team has a squad arrived at a World Cup with this much glittering young potential.

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — For as long as she can remember, Sophia Smith has dreamt of playing for the U.S. in a World Cup. As a young girl growing up in northern Colorado, she planned for it, she practiced it, she even acted it out in her backyard.

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — The Women's World Cup opened with pomp despite the circumstances Thursday, kicking off less than 12 hours after a mass shooting in Auckland's scenic harbor district.

On a day that started with tragedy, the Football Ferns triumphed. Hannah Wilkinson scored to open the second half and New Zealand went on to upset Norway 1-0 on Thursday for its first-ever win at the Women’s World Cup, hours after a shooting in downtown Auckland shocked the host nation.

No stranger to creating NZ football history, Hannah Wilkinson has painted a rosy picture for the Football Ferns' future in this FIFA Women's World Cup - exactly when the nation needed its spirits lifted, Suzanne McFadden writes.

Win against Norway creates new football lovers in nation where rugby dominates, amid joy at women’s sport being centre stage

Three people were killed in an incident which occurred 400 metres from Norway’s team hotel

An unrelated shooting in Auckland couldn’t dampen the tournament’s message of unity or a host victory in the opening match.

Shooting took place near the hotel of the Norwegian team hours before opening match

New Zealand shocked the World Cup, the crowd and the nation - everyone but themselves - in pulling off a historic upset win over Norway in the tournament opener in Auckland.

FIFA insist the Women’s World Cup will go ahead safely despite a deadly shooting in Auckland hours before the opening match in the city on Thursday.