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<\/div>\nJust hours before Auckland was due to host the opening match of the Women\u2019s World Cup, the city woke up to news of a deadly shooting which has cast a shadow over what was supposed to be a day of celebration.<\/p>\n
The incident in the centre of New Zealand\u2019s largest city, close to where hundreds of football supporters were due to gather at a fan park, left two people dead and six others injured.<\/p>\n
Fifa said it had been informed it was an isolated incident and Thursday\u2019s match between New Zealand and Norway at Eden Park would go ahead as planned.<\/p>\n
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People have travelled to the city from across the globe for the start of the World Cup, which has been labelled the biggest women\u2019s sports event ever to be staged.<\/p>\n
Jacob Johnson, a reporter for 1 News in Auckland, told BBC Sport: \u201cThe fact it has happened on the day that was meant to be a huge celebration for New Zealand is just gobsmacking.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Women\u2019s World Cup was supposed to be a huge win for women\u2019s sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn New Zealand, it is something we are really trying to push. It\u2019s such a shame that something like this will probably dominate the headlines for days.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Women\u2019s World Cup has been years in the making. I hope organisers are not going to completely let this overshadow the event. The Women\u2019s World Cup is a really big deal for New Zealand.\u201d<\/p>\n
The shooting took place on a construction site in the central business district at 07:22 (20:22 BST). The gunman was declared dead after the attack, which is not being seen as an act of terrorism.<\/p>\n
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said all Fifa personnel and football teams were safe and had been accounted for.<\/p>\n
Fifa released a statement saying it had been \u201cin constant contact with the participating teams affected by this incident\u201d.<\/p>\n
It added: \u201cFifa extends its deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims who lost their lives following the incident which occurred this morning in Auckland, New Zealand, and our thoughts and prayers remain with those who have been injured in this tragic incident.\u201d<\/p>\n A Fifa Women\u2019s World Cup bus was inside the police cordon in Auckland city centre<\/em><\/p>\n A record 32 teams are taking part in the tournament in Australia and New Zealand over the next four weeks.<\/p>\n Auckland is hosting nine of the 64 games.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is the biggest sporting event New Zealand has ever hosted,\u201d added Auckland-based reporter Johnson. \u201cWe had our breakfast crews down at the fan zone this morning.<\/p>\n \u201cThere were excited fans and children. It\u2019s just across the road from where this horrible incident took place.\u201d<\/p>\n Among those visiting the city for the tournament is Sonia Orvaz, who has travelled to Auckland from California to support four-time world champions the United States.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s sad when this sort of thing happens,\u201d she said. \u201cThis will obviously overshadow the start of the tournament which is very unfortunate.<\/p>\n \u201cIt just makes me a little bit sad for Auckland. They\u2019ve waited years for this.\u201d<\/p>\n A Canada fan, Cherry Andrews, had been on her way to the fan park when she was diverted because of the incident.<\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t know what was going on,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cHopefully it is not going to deter people enjoying the Women\u2019s World Cup and why we are all here in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/_130438496_fifa.png\")
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