Women’s World Cup 2023: ‘Football fever has taken over New Zealand’

“I’m really filled with hope,” says New Zealand women’s football fan Annie Kennedy. “There is belief that wasn’t there before. I see it as a huge success.”

With co-hosts Australia staging the second semi-final, third place play-off and final, the 29th and final Fifa Women’s World Cup match to be staged in New Zealand saw Spain defeat Sweden 2-1 in Tuesday’s semi-final at Eden Park.

Another 43,217 sell-out crowd watched as all three goals…