North Harbour Stadium has lost out to Dunedin's Carisbrook as a venue for this year's world youth soccer championships.
With the full support of the city council, Dunedin beat off a late challenge from North Harbour, who did not have the backing from the North Shore City Council.
The otherchampionship groups will be based at Auckland's Ericsson Stadium, McLean Park in Napier and Christchurch's QE ll Stadium.
New Zealand Under-17 `99 Ltd chief executive Bill MacGowan, in confirming the venue decision by the recently elected board, said he had been most impressed by Dunedin's bid.
"They were able to show us that the city is right behind them and that the council is going to contribute significantly to the event," he said.
MacGowan admitted he had had some concerns about the North Harbour Stadium.
"I approached them once we realised how much going to Dunedin would add to the costs," he said.
"But in the end Dunedin's bid was too good to be ignored. North Harbour could not match them."
