New Zealand and Australia win first matches at Women's World Cup

SYDNEY, July 20: Co-host New Zealand opened the 2023 Fifa Women's World Cup by beating Norway by 1-0 as they won on the global stage for the first time.

In the match that took place in Auckland, the Football Ferns produced a huge upset after Hannah Wilkinson scored a goal at the 48-minute mark. A crowd of 42,137 were present at Eden Park - a record for a football match in New Zealand. 

On the other side, another World Cup co-host Australia took the victory over the Republic of Ireland by 1-0 goals. Australia took the win as Steph Catley scored a penalty in the 52nd minute of the game in the second half.

There was a minute's silence before kick-off for the victims of a deadly shooting in Auckland earlier on Thursday.