Football: Primary latest to sign with Fifa

Whangarei Primary School students celebrate their entry into the Football in Schools programme with Fifa Under-20 World Cup tournament mascot 'Wooliam'. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Preparations for this years Fifa Under-20 World Cup 2015 tournament are well under way. And Whangarei Primary are one of the first Northland schools to jump on board the pre-tournament hype, signing on with the Fifa Football in Schools programme for term two.

Although the nation is in the grip of Cricket World Cup fever, Fifa's Northland sales and marketing manager Mel Miller says the programme "is a great opportunity to educate kids on the tournament".

Furthermore, a select few students could be in the running to have a firsthand experience with the tournament players.

"If schools sign up before the end of March, several students could have the opportunity to run-out with some of football's future stars," Miller says.

"In our Northland region we will select two schools and from that several kids will have the opportunity to be flag bearers, player escorts and help run the ball out."

Whangarei has made the cut as one of seven host-cities for the event and the Fifa sports-based education programme has been taken up by 12 Northland schools so far.

The theory-based programme is designed to celebrate and promote New Zealand hosting the event.

Miller says some schools have hinted toward helping pack out at Whangarei's Toll Stadium for some of the city's games.

"Whangarei Boy's High School have shown interest in getting 500 kids to one game. Whangarei Intermediate have also mentioned they'd like to get their whole school to a game."

The tournament kicks-off on May 30, with Whangarei set to host four matches.

-Tickets can be purchased through www.fifa.com/nz2015