Nadeshiko Japan Arrive in New Zealand for FIFA World Cup

By Yu Hirasawa / Yomiuri Shimbun Sportswriter

12:42 JST, July 17, 2023

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — Nadeshiko Japan, the women’s national soccer team, arrived Sunday in this city on the South Island of New Zealand ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Nadeshiko were treated to a welcome ceremony at their hotel in Christchurch, their training base during the tournament, which is jointly hosted by Australia.

“We hope to promote goodwill and learn about the local culture, as well as bring home the trophy,” Norio Sasaki, chairman of the Japan Football Association Women’s Committee, said at the ceremony.

Training begins Monday for the 2011 World Cup champions in their bid to win the Cup a second time. Their first match in Group C is against Zambia on Saturday in Hamilton on the North Island.

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