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By Amaechi Agbo

Ahead if the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, world football governing body FIFA has launched “FIFA Fan Festivals” in keeping with the tournament’s theme.

The objective of FIFA Fans Festivals is to make football truly global, accessible and inclusive, and these exciting events provide an opportunity to experience football in new ways in a fun festival environment.

“The FIFA Fan Festival will be rolled out in Australia & Aotearoa New Zealand this year for the first time ever at a FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“All nine Host Cities across the two countries will offer a FIFA Fan Festivals, all of which will be free to enter; the FIFA Fan Festival goes beyond football, offering fans a vibrant setting to enjoy the best in football, music, entertainment, local culture, food and games
FIFA has today confirmed that all nine Host Cities will have a FIFA Fan Festival during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023,” FIFA said in statement on Wednesday

This is the first time that FIFA Fan Festivals will be rolled out at a FIFA Women’s World Cup, in keeping with the tournament’s theme of firsts.

All FIFA Fan Festivals will offer free entry to people of all ages, providing a vibrant destination to celebrate the global game and experience the best in football, music, entertainment, local culture, food and games. Fans will be able to watch the tournament drama unfold on big screens at each venue.

FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura explained the mission of the festivals:
“Whether you are an avid fan or a football newcomer, the FIFA Fan Festival provides an exciting entertainment space that brings people together beyond football.”

“Our mission is to make football truly global, accessible and inclusive, and these exciting events provide an opportunity to experience football in new ways in a fun festival environment.”

There will be a FIFA Fan Festival in every Host City at various times during the tournament, which will run from 20 July to 20 August 2023. To provide the best possible experience for visitors, the events at each venue will be tailored to the local climate, matchdays and kick-off times.

While Australia will have five venues for the Fans Festivals which include – Adelaide/Tarntanya – Festival Plaza; Brisbane/Meaanjin – South Bank Parklands; Melbourne/Naarm – Federation Square; Perth/Boorloo – Forrest Place and Sydney/Gadigal – Tumbalong Park: New Zealand has four venues –
Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau – The Cloud;
Hamilton/Kirikiriroa – Claudelands Event Centre; Wellington/Te Whanganui-a-Tara – Shed 6 and Dunedin/Ōtepoti – Dunedin Town Hall & Glenroy Auditorium

Formerly known as the FIFA Fan Fest, this one-stop destination for fans had previously appeared at four editions of the FIFA World Cup, starting with the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany. It debuted in its new form as the FIFA Fan Festival at last year’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022