Bay lad and NZ teammates keyed up for Cup opener

KICKING OFF: New Zealand's Jesse Edge in action during a warm-up game for the 2015 Fifa U-20 World Cup, which begins today with the opening match between New Zealand and Ukraine. PHOTO/JASON OXENHAM

Bay of Plenty footballer Jesse Edge and his teammates in the Junior All Whites will begin their Fifa Under-20 World Cup campaign today.

The largest international football event New Zealand has ever hosted begins today, with the first game being played at North Harbour Stadium.

The Fifa U-20 World Cup will broadcast to more than 100 countries with an estimated global television audience of 170 million.

The tournament has been the launching pad for some of the game's all-time greats such as Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, Marco van Basten, Kaka, Michael Owen, Ronaldinho and Cesc Fabregas.

Edge, from Papamoa, is part of the New Zealand squad playing against Ukraine in the opening match today at 1pm at North Harbour Stadium.

The defender/holding midfielder, who plies his trade in Italy with Series B promotion contenders Vicenza Calcio, was excited about the games to come.

"Our training and our warm-up games have made us all feel pretty prepared and ready for the first game," Edge said.

"We were [welcomed] on to a marae this week which was very special for me because I am part-Maori so to connect back with my roots was special.

"There is a very good atmosphere around the team and the hotel. All the boys are very tight. We are feeling very confident about getting a result in that first game."

Interest in the U-20 World Cup is intensifying with more than 20,000 tickets already sold for today's opening game between New Zealand and Ukraine.

Edge has been a consistent starter in Daren Bazeley's team in this month's warm-up games, playing across the back four positions in partnership with team captain Bill Tuiloma.

"This is my third World Cup involved with Bill. He is a good leader and his experience with Olympique Marseille and being an All White helps us all.

"He is someone to look up to and is a good role model," Edge said.