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Australia's Sam Kerr (r) scores a goal in the friendly against Sweden in Melbourne (pictured November 2022)
Photo:
Asanka Brendon Ratnayake / AP
Due to the high demand for tickets, co-hosts Australia's opening game at the soccer World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next summer (July 20 to August 20) will be relocated to the big final arena in Sydney.
This was announced by the Australian Football Association on Tuesday.
The world football association Fifa has granted the request to move to the larger stadium.
The former Olympic stadium "Stadium Australia" is the largest venue of the tournament and has a capacity of 83,500 spectators.
The final is also planned there on August 20th.
Stadium capacity doubled
The game between the players of Australia and Ireland was originally supposed to be played on July 20 (12:00 p.m. CEST) at the Sydney Football Stadium, which can accommodate around 42,500 fans.
The Opening Ceremony and opening match between co-hosts New Zealand and Norway (9.00 CEST) will take place beforehand at Auckland's Eden Park.
Thus, the mark of 100,000 stadium visitors could already be cracked on the first day of the World Cup.
“Fifa is doing everything it can to organize the biggest and best women's World Cup this year.
With their colourfulness, their enthusiasm and their mood in the stadiums, the fans play a decisive role in the success of the tournament," said FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura.
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