Fifa U-20 World Cup

Fifa U-20 World Cup – the beautiful game in the beautiful country

At the end of May twenty-four teams of under-20 year old soccer players arrive in New Zealand to play in the Fifa U-20 World Cup. The beautiful game is arriving in the beautiful country – New Zealand. Here we are more used to the oval ball game with our legendary All Blacks keeping us at the top of the Rugby Union world. But soccer is also big in our sport mad country and with increasing numbers of children and teenagers playing games every week, it’s only likely to get bigger. So it’s no wonder everyone here is looking forward to seeing around 400 soccer players from 24 nations descending on our stadiums in a couple of months’ time.

The tournament follows hot on the heels of the ICC Cricket World Cup and will be the one to watch if you want to see the international soccer stars of the future. And with a global audience of around 200 million, it will also put New Zealand on the map. All 52 matches will be played in New Zealand, in seven cities over three weeks between 30th May and 20th June, with five of the stadiums in the North Island.

Over 50,000 tickets have already been sold so interest in the tournament is building quickly. Following the football games as they move from City to City couldn’t be easier than by car and if you are on a budget the best idea would be to hire a cheap car rental from a company like New Zealand Discount Car Rentals.

The U-20 Fifa World Cup Match Schedule has a list of all the games so you can plan your tour.

For some guidance here is information about locations and games, so you can pick and choose the teams to watch, as well as take in some of New Zealand’s highlights between matches.

• Northland Events Centre, Whangarei
• Whangarei (pronounced fang-ga-ray) is the northern most City in New Zealand, with an addictive laid back coastal lifestyle. It’s a great base to explore the historic heart of New Zealand in the Bay of Islands, just 70 kms north, as well as beach hop along the east coast to Ocean Beach, Matapouri and Whananaki.
• If you are a diver, head to Tutukaka, the base of Dive Tutukaka that run boat trips to the Poor Knights, the best diving in New Zealand.
• Group Match Date Time Teams playing
• A 30th May 1600hrs United States v Myanmar
• A 2nd June 1300hrs Myanmar v Ukraine
• F 7th June 1400hrs Fiji v Uzbekistan
• Last 16 11th June 1600hrs

North Harbour Stadium, Albany, Auckland

The venue for nine matches, including the final on 20th June, North Harbour stadium is just 30 mins by car from Downtown Auckland and on the doorstep of all the attractions and adventure pursuits Auckland, the City of Sails, has to offer.
Auckland is the largest and most cosmopolitan City in New Zealand and was recently voted the 3rd best City in the world for quality of living, for the third year in a row (Mercer Quality of Living Survey 2014) – so you might want to stay for a few days to see why it’s so good!
You can enjoy a bustling and lively night-life after a hard day watching soccer, visit the bars and restaurants of all flavours, relax on the beaches galore or go on an adventure.
The City has a few unusual walks such as the SkyWalk around the top of the Sky Tower 192 metres up, or one across the Auckland Harbour Bridge. For thrill seekers, and if you are tired of walking, you can also bungee jump off both!
Keeping your feet firmly on the ground is also an option. Try a tour around some of the best Waiheke Island vineyards, such as Mudbrick, Stonyridge and Te Whau, and stop at one for lunch (the Auckland – Waiheke Ferry takes just 30 minutes).
The spacious Auckland War Memorial Museum will consume anyone for a few hours, with its Maori and Pacific collections and galleries of Natural History and Social and Military displays.
Four times a day the Museum has the engaging Maori cultural performance that closes with a high-energy, spine tingling version of the world famous Haka.

Group Match Date Time Teams playing

• A 30th May 1300 New Zealand v Ukraine
• A 2nd June 1900 New Zealand v USA
• B 5th June 1600 Panama v CAF3*
• A 5th June 1900 Ukraine v USA
• Last 16 10th June 1930
• Quarter-final 14th June 1630
• Semi-final 17th June 1930
• 3rd place 20th June 1330
• Final 20th June 1700

(* – the final four qualifiers will be known once the 20th Confederation of African Football (CAF) U-20 Championships finishes on 22nd March)

Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

The Waikato City of Hamilton is in the heart of one of New Zealand’s most productive agricultural areas and is also close to some of the country’s most popular tourist destinations.

Just 125 kms drive from Auckland means a Waikato and North Harbour Stadium combo of match watching is very possible for those not wanting to travel far but also wanting to take in some sights.
Hamilton itself is built along New Zealand’s longest river, the Waikato, and is affectionately known as the River City and gateway to the Central North Island.
The City is one of the fastest growing in the country with a lively central district that combines plentiful open spaces, with great shopping, cafes, bars and restaurants. Being on the Waikato a must-do trip is the Waikato River experience, which can be followed by a walk around the famous and stunning Hamilton Gardens and a visit to the Waikato Museum.

There are also plenty of highlights in the hinterland.

An hour South are the Waitomo Caves, the world famous underground limestone cave system and home to millions of glowworms. The options for subterranean tours include walking through the stunning Ruakuri cave, going on an underground boat trip along the Waitomo River through the Glowworm Grotto and black water rafting where you float along in an inner tube, and stare upwards at the glowworm lit cave ceiling.
For Hobbit fans a visit to Hobbiton and the Shire is mandatory, just an hour east of the City near the town of Matamata. Here you will find the movie set from the blockbuster Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies.

A little further east is Rotorua a volcanic and geothermal treat, and a place of fun, adventure, extreme sports and relaxation, and one of New Zealand’s main tourist destinations.

Rotorua’s huge array of activities include the hissing and bubbling geothermal areas of Whakarewarewa and Wai-O-tapu, the relaxation of spas such as the Polynesian Spa, voted as one of the top 10 in the world, and lots of adventure pursuits. These include the Luge that zooms downhill through native forest, one of New Zealand’s oldest farm experiences at the Agrodome and mountain biking through the Red Wood Forest.
And there’s heaps more including river rafting, jet boating, Zorbing and New Zealand’s only native forest zip line tour through the tree tops.

Group Match Date Time Teams playing

• C 31st May 1300 Qatar v Colombia
• C 31st May 1600 Portugal v CAF4
• C 3rd June 1600 Qatar v Portugal
• C 3rd June 1900 CAF4 v Colombia
• C 6th June 1300 CAF4 v Qatar
• D 6th June 1600 CAF2 v Uruguay
• Last 16 11th June 1930
• Quarter finals 14th June 1300

Stadium Taranaki, New Plymouth

The centre piece of this corner of New Zealand is the proud snow topped Mount Taranaki, steeped in historic and cultural significance.
The City of New Plymouth is 240 kms or 3 hour’s drive from Hamilton so it’s worth staying a few days if making the trip – and there’s plenty to do.
The region of Taranaki protrudes westward and its 200 kms of coast is pounded by the surf of the Tasman Sea; stunning to look at and exciting to ride at one of the region’s many surf beaches. There are walks along the coast, hikes up rocks to look at views, such as at Paritutu Rock, or adventure including locally invented tourism attraction dam dropping.
The peak of excitement would be a guided walk up Mount Taranaki itself. At 2518 metres, and with no other mountain around, a guided trip is essential but the reward for bracing the weather and trudging up, is the spectacular view from the top.
New Plymouth is a small but bustling City that’s home to much of New Zealand’s burgeoning oil and gas industry. So the town itself is well-stocked with great cafés, bars and restaurants and the atmosphere belies its size of 69,000 people.
There are six matches at Taranaki Stadium, and with some days between each there’s plenty of opportunity to enjoy what the region has to offer.

Group Match Date Time Teams playing

• E 1st June 1300 CAF1 v Brazil
• E 1st June 1600 Korea DPR v Hungary
• E 4th June 1600 CAF1 v Korea DPR
• E 4th June 1900 Hungary v Brazil
• E 7th June 1700 Hungary v CAF1
• Last 16 11th June 1930

Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington

Known locally as the Cake Tin, this 34,500 capacity stadium will host nine matches, and as home to the local A-League team the Wellington Phoenix, the soccer mad locals will revel in the action.
The stadium is also just 20 mins walk to the City Centre, which has been labelled the coolest little capital in the world by Vogue.
Sandwiched between hills and harbour, Wellington mixes culture with cafés and some of the best bars in the country. It is also commonly known as the craft beer capital, with good reason as you are never too far away from a chance to sip a locally made brew.
In this cultural heart of the country a visit to national museum Te Papa is a must, and why not visit Weta Workshop, the creative figurine genius behind the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit Trilogies.

There are also stunning vistas and walks with views atop mountains only a short distance from downtown. A trip up the Wellington Cable Car is one of the best.

Group Match Date Time Teams playing

• B 30th May 1600 Argentina v Panama
• B 30th May 1900 CAF3 v Austria
• B 2nd June 1600 Argentina v CAF3
• B 2nd June 1900 Austria v Panama
• B 5th June 1600 Austria v Argentina
• A 5th June 1900 Myanmar v New Zealand
• Last 16 10th June 1600
• Last 16 10th June 1930
• Quarter finals 14th June 1630

Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch

For those who have time, take a ferry over the Cook Strait and head south to matches in Christchurch and may be even right south to Dunedin.
The ferry between Wellington and Picton, takes over three hours and has been described as one of the most beautiful ferry trips in the world. Then to drive to Christchurch will take another 4.5 hours, so it’s worth stopping along the way.

A good town to have a break is Kaikoura, about two hours south of Picton, famous for whale watching and swimming with the dolphins. This is one of New Zealand’s top eco-tourism destinations, and a magical place, bounded by the steep often snow-capped Kaikoura Ranges and a deep ocean environment that is a feeding ground for a plentiful marine life.

It’s another two hours to Christchurch, the “Garden City”, which after the 2011 earthquakes is being transformed and was voted by the New York Times as No.2 on its list of 52 places to visit in 2014.

The City Centre has become a living art gallery with many street murals and massive ongoing construction. Try a City tour including a tram trip and a relaxing punt along the Avon River. It will be a little chilly by May and June but if you want go extreme and get a taste of the Antarctic try a visit to the International Antarctic Centre and experience everything from a blizzard to penguin watching.

Group Match Date Time Teams playing

• F 1st June 1300 Germany vs Fiji
• F 1st June 1600 Uzbekistan vs Honduras
• F 4th June 1600 Germany vs Uzbekistan
• F 4th June 1900 Honduras vs Fiji
• F 7th June 1400 Honduras vs Germany
• E 7th June 1700 Brazil vs Korea DPR
• Last 16 11th June 1930
• Quarter final 14th June 1300
• Semi final 17th June 1600

Otago Stadium, Dunedin

The most southern host City is Dunedin, location for seven matches at the only permanently covered natural turf stadium in New Zealand where 30,000 fans can enjoy the games, whatever the weather.

Dunedin is a University City with a unique character and culture, it is also dubbed the wildlife capital of New Zealand.
Just 32 kms east of the City is the world’s only mainland albatross colony at Taiaora Head and the Otago Peninsula is also home to the rare yellow eyed penguin.

For something really different try walking up Baldwin Street, the steepest residential street in the world.

Group Match Date Time Teams playing

• D 31st May 1300 Mexico vs CAF2
• D 31st May 1600 Uruguay vs Serbia
• D 3rd June 1600 Mexico vs Uruguay
• D 3rd June 1900 Serbia vs CAF2
• C 6th June 1300 Colombia vs Portugal
• D 6th June 1600 Serbia vs Mexico
• Last 16 10th June 1600

There can’t be many better reasons for touring one of the most beautiful countries in the world, than following the matches of the Fifa U-20 World Cup? This is a unique opportunity to watch the world’s most popular game, in one of the most sought-after travel destinations.

Driving is the most convenient option as it give you the flexibility to go where you want, when you want. Renting a cheaper priced high quality vehicle is ideal if you want to spend a little less on travel so you can spend a little more on watching soccer or experiencing the sights and adventures New Zealand has to offer.

If you are looking for cheap car rental you can’t do much better than a company like New Zealand Discount Car Rentals where prices start at $14.95 for a short term rental and could be as low as $9.95 a day for a minimum of 40 days.

You can pick up a vehicle from its Auckland Airport base where they have a large range from small hatchbacks to people movers, and you will always receive a great welcome and friendly service.

Enjoy your stay in New Zealand, drive safely and remember we drive on the left side of the road. For hints and tips about driving in New Zealand visit our blog The Tiki Tour – your New Zealand road trip.