The women's Football World Cup kicks off at Eden Park tonight, the tournament opener still going ahead despite today's shooting in Auckland.

The Football Ferns have promised we haven't seen their best, now they have a chance to deliver taking on Norway in the opening match.

It's the first of 64 matches in the month-long event being co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia but it comes on a day when Aucklanders have been shocked by a violent incident that saw the fatal shootings of two civilians and a gunman on a construction site in the CBD.

Out of respect for the victims, today's FIFA Fan Festival at the Cloud was cancelled.

The Ferns, ranked 26 in the world, are taking on a team ranked 14 places higher than them. Norway's star striker Ada Hegerberg said her side is eager to make amends for a poor showing at last year's European Championships which saw them exit at the group stage.

A short opening ceremony described as a celebration of the indigenous cultures of both host nations will precede the game.

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