FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura visited Ellerslie Football Club in Auckland / Tāmaki Makaurau on Thursday afternoon to inspect another local club that will enjoy long-term benefits from the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023™.

Following a visit to Wellington / Te Whanganui-a-Tara, the FIFA Secretary General made her way to New Zealand’s largest city.

Ellerslie FC will be the Team Base Camp for Argentina and the South Americans will have the opportunity to enjoy new club room facilities, upgraded floodlights, a newly renovated pitch and a plaza redevelopment when they arrive next month. The club, whose President is former New Zealand striker and OFC vice president Fred de Jong - and who was on hand to take the Secretary General on a tour of the facilities - will benefit from the upgrades long after the world champions are crowned on 20 August.

With late afternoon training in full swing at the club which boasts a large number of female footballers, the Secretary General was able to meet numerous young players from different age groups and even joined in a kick-about with some of the youngsters. The delegation, which also included New Zealand Football President Johanna Wood, and Chief Women’s Football Officer Sarai Bareman, were also able to meet 15 of the Cultural Champions that will help drive community excitement across for the 16 New Zealand-based teams.

FIFA