Some of the most senior officials from football’s world governing body, FIFA, have given Taranaki a huge thumbs-up as it prepares to host FIFA’s second largest global tournament – the U-20 World Cup in 2015. FIFA Inspectors were in New Plymouth today, Saturday 8th March 2014 to inspect Stadium Taranaki and various training venues for the landmark event, and agreed that the venue is in great shape to showcase the world’s biggest game. During the inspection tour, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2015 also announced that the iconic FIFA U-20 World Cup trophy would be taken on a nationwide tour of New Zealand. It will be on show in New Plymouth and Inglewood on Wednesday 14 May 2014 and in Hawera on Thursday 15 May 2014. Details of the venues and times will be released shortly. This is a new trophy for the FIFA U-20 World Cup so New Zealander’s will be the first to see the the ornament which will be held aloft by the winners on 20 June 2015.
