(CNN) — Co-hosts New Zealand beat Norway 1-0 in the opening game of the 2023 Women’s World Cup at Auckland’s Eden Park to claim their first-ever World Cup victory.
Hannah Wilkinson scored the second-half winner, connecting with Jacqui Hand’s perfect cross that wowed the 42,000 home fans.
The New Zealand women’s team had previously gone winless in their 15 World Cup matches, the longest total winless streak of any nation in football’s biggest competition.
It is the biggest tournament with a record 32 teams taking part in 64 matches across Australia and New Zealand over the next four weeks.
Co-hosts New Zealand are attending their sixth World Cup and have the unenviable record of never having won a match at previous tournaments.
For Norway, expectations are high and the 1995 World Cup winners should have a great run at the tournament.
A minute’s silence was observed early in the game, following a rare multiple shootout in Auckland city center hours before the opening game of the Women’s World Cup.
Australia, meanwhile, play the second round against Ireland.
The final will be played on August 20 at the Olympic Stadium in Sydney, Australia.
