Members of the Philippines Women’s World Cup team walk to their team bus following a shooting near their hotel in the central business district in Auckland, New Zealand, Thursday, July 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
The Philippine women’s football team said all of its members are safe following a shooting incident that rocked at the vicinity of the delegation’s hotel in Auckland, New Zealand on Thursday.
The team said on social media that everyone—players, coaches, officials and staff—are all accounted for after a gunman and two others died during the incident at a construction site located in Auckland’s central business district.
“All members of the Philippine Women’s National Team delegation at the FIFA Women’s World Cup are safe,” the team said.
Local media and wire service reports bared that the New Zealand government was describing the shooting as an “isolated incident.”
Those covering on the scene said that the incident took place near where the Filipinas and Norway are billeted.
It came hours before the 2023 edition of women’s football’s biggest showpiece kicks off with New Zealand taking on Norway in the city’s Eden Park.
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the opener will proceed as scheduled.
The Filipinas were scheduled to fly to Dunedin on the same day ahead of Friday’s World Cup debut against Switzerland.