Soccer: Christchurch earmarked as World Cup venue

New Zealand Football's bid document for the 2015 u-20 World Cup proposed six host cities - Auckland, Hamilton, Napier, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. Photo / Getty Images

Christchurch is among the venues being earmarked to stage matches during the under-20 soccer World Cup in 2015.

In a coup for New Zealand, world body Fifa announced in Zurich early today (NZT) that its second biggest tournament was heading to this country.

The venues are still to be confirmed, but New Zealand Football's (NZF) bid document proposed six host cities - Auckland, Hamilton, Napier, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

The document was presented to Fifa last month, just days before the deadly earthquake in Christchurch.

NZF chief executive Michael Glading said the city remained firmly in the hosting scenario.

"Christchurch is very much part of the plans for this event going forward to 2015," he said.

Glading also said the number of cities staging matches could rise to eight, with Tauranga, Whangarei, New Plymouth, Rotorua and Invercargill in the mix as possible additions.

He said Fifa officials would conduct an inspection visit in the middle of the year and he expected the venues to be confirmed by the end 2011.

With 24 nations and 52 matches, the two-yearly tournament ranks only behind the senior men's soccer World Cup in size.

It rivals the women's World Cup as the second most important in the Fifa programme.

The qualifying process for this year's event in Colombia in July attracted 179 countries and many of the players who will be on show are likely to feature at the next senior World Cup.

Among those who have graced previous under-20 tournaments are the legendary Diego Maradona, fellow Argentine and present world player of the year Lionel Messi, and Brazilian World Cup winners Ronaldinho and Roberto Carlos.

New Zealand have hosted two other age group World Cups - the under-17 men's event in 1999 and the women's equivalent in 2008.

NZF chairman Frank van Hattum was delighted that New Zealand would now add to that list.

"We're really, really excited about this opportunity," he said.

"The economic impact and value to New Zealand is immense, and that's what's exciting, especially in these difficult times."

Van Hattum believed the professionalism of New Zealand's bid and the country's proven ability to host international events were factors when Fifa was faced with bids from Wales, Peru and Tunisia.

In particular, the success of the under-17 women's World Cup was fresh in the memory.

"They've seen New Zealand in action in recent years and they like what they see," he said.

"We're an easy country to deal with. We are seen as safe and a great tourism destination."

Preparations for this year's rugby World Cup also meant there were new or upgraded stadiums and infrastructure was largely in place.

New Zealand might be small in size, van Hattum said.

"But we are not seen as small in our ability to deliver," he said.

"You look at the rugby World Cup. It's a big event and New Zealand can host that."

- NZPA