Infantino urges fans to 'seize moment' on eve of Women's World Cup
Fifa president Gianni Infantino urged fans to "seize the moment" on Wednesday and snap up Women's World Cup tickets, with the opening match yet to sell out on the eve of the tournament.
There have long been concerns about sales in New Zealand, which will stage the opening game on Thursday when the co-hosts face Norway at the 50 000-capacity Eden Park in Auckland.
Australia play the Republic of Ireland in the second game on Thursday in a sell-out at Sydney's Stadium Australia, which can hold about 80 000 fans.
Fifa secretary-general Fatma Samoura said that 1.375 million tickets have been sold for the month-long tournament, surpassing the figure for the 2019 Women's World Cup in France.
That tournament had 24 teams, compared to 32 for the upcoming one.
As of late Wednesday, tickets were still available on Fifa's official website for almost all World Cup matches, including New Zealand's clash with former champions Norway and both semifinals.
"My only message that I want to get out here is seize the moment, be proud of what you have been able to achieve here, in New Zealand, in Australia," Infantino told reporters in Auckland.
"Be proud of what will be the biggest event – not just sports event – that has been organised here so far," he added at a press conference that was far more low key than his interventions at last year's men's World Cup in Qatar.
"Today I feel tired because I just landed, but I feel very happy," he said in a playful nod to a controversial speech he delivered in Doha when he claimed to feel "gay", "disabled" and "a migrant worker".
Sitting alongside Infantino – who was more reserved than usual – Samoura said Fifa had reached its "expectation in terms of numbers" of tickets sold.
"However, we
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