It should be a boost for the tournament’s legacy, as young players (in particular) will get to see their heroes up close, while local club members could be involved in roles around the base camps.
As an example, the United States — one of the most high profile teams in any sport around the world and two-time defending champions — will be based in the humble surrounds of Bay City Park in Browns Bay, the home of East Coast Bays AFC.
The Football Ferns have chosen Keith Hay Park, where Auckland United FC play, as their base.
There are a total of seven teams staying in Auckland and the others include Norway (Seddon Fields/Western Springs AFC), the Philippines (Olympic Park/Bay-Olympic FC), Vietnam (Fred Taylor Park/Waitakere City FC), Italy (Shepherds Park/Birkenhead United AFC) and Argentina (Michaels Ave Reserve/Ellerslie AFC).
Zambia will be in Hamilton, while the Netherlands have selected Tauranga and Spain opted for Palmerston North.
Sweden and South Africa are in Wellington, with Costa Rica and Japan in Christchurch and Switzerland coming to Dunedin.
Following October’s draw, the qualified teams visited the short-listed sites and then submitted their preferred options to Fifa, ranked from first to third choice.
Following those selections, Fifa confirmed the base camps for the respective teams.
There were nine prospective host clubs in Auckland, with another eleven possible venues around the country. Sites in Napier and Rotorua were among those that missed out, along with McLennan Park (Papakura City FC) and Mangere Central Park (Manukau United).
While there is no fixed date, teams are expected to arrive up to two weeks before their first match, while all squads will be in New Zealand within seven days of the tournament’s opening match on July 20.
2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup team base camps
Auckland
Football Ferns – Keith Hay Park
Argentina – Michaels Ave
Italy – Shepherds Park
Norway – Seddon Fields
Philippines – Olympic Park
United States – Bay City Park
Vietnam – Fred Taylor Park
Tauranga
Netherlands – Bay Oval
Hamilton
Zambia – Korikori Park
Palmerston North
Spain – Massey Sports Institute
Wellington
Sweden – New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport
South Africa – Porirua Park
Christchurch
Costa Rica – Ngā Puna Wai
Japan – Orangetheory Stadium
Dunedin
Switzerland – Tāhuna Park