Women's World Cup 2023 kicks off

At the 16th attempt, they've finally done it.

Co-hosts New Zealand have beaten Norway 1-0 in the opening match of the FIFA 2023 Women's World Cup at Auckland's Eden Park — their first ever World Cup win.

Hannah Wilkinson tapped home the second-half winner, connecting with an inch-perfect cross from Jacqui Hand that sent the 42,000 packed-out home crowd wild.

The Football Ferns had previously gone without a win from their 15 World Cup games —the longest total run of any nation without a win in football’s biggest competition.

New Zealand is also yet to make it past the group stage but will be hoping that this positive start to its World Cup campaign can ignite a historic run and spark a women's soccer revolution in their home country.

Already fans in the stadium have expressed excitement at what's to come, as their team prepares to travel to Wellington to face World Cup debutants the Philippines on July 25, before facing Switzerland on July 30 in Dunedin.

In stoppage time, two Norway players carried off midfielder Thea Bjelde, who appeared injured.

The scene prompted laughter around the stadium as the players rushed their team mate off without waiting for medical staff as the clock ticked down.

Norway trail New Zealand 0-1, with minutes left in the first game of the 2023 Women's World Cup.

With less than five minutes left in regulation time, New Zealand's Ria Percival missed a penalty that could have cemented the team's lead over Norway.

The home team leads 1-0 and is minutes away from winning their first ever World Cup match.

A record 42,137 people are in the stands for the opening game of the 2023 Women's World Cup, organizers have announced — setting a record for any soccer match in the country, men’s or women’s.

Organizers had hoped to attract a large home crowd, as co-hosts and tournament underdogs New Zealand battle former winners Norway at Auckland's 123-year-old Eden Park.

The 2023 Women's World Cup is on track to be the most attended standalone women’s sporting event in history, according to FIFA — with record ticket sales.

The mood in Auckland's Eden Park Stadium is jubilant, as underdogs New Zealand lead 1-0 against much-fancied Norway thanks to a goal from Hannah Wilkinson.

Fans have broken out in several rounds of loud cheers in support of the Ferns, as the women's team is known.

The challenge now for the home team is to hang on. Despite playing in five previous tournaments, New Zealand has the unenviable record of having never won a match in World Cup competition.

Norway, meanwhile, lifted the trophy in 1995 and were considered among the favorites heading into this year's cup.

Jeremy Seales and his son, Rafferty, have been looking forward to the World Cup for months.

"He's been pretty excited about coming," Seales said of his son.

New Zealand fans are out in force for the co-host's opening match against Norway in Auckland Thursday.

Ohm and Jeffrey, who declined to provide their last names, said they didn't usually watch the women's game but came out to get behind the home team.

A record New Zealand's women's team crowd is expected Thursday at Eden Park stadium for the tournament opener. The 123-year-old stadium has a capacity of more than 40,500 seats for the tournament, according to FIFA.

The 2023 Women's World Cup is on track to be the most attended standalone women’s sporting event in history, according to FIFA — with record ticket sales. But in New Zealand, ticket sales have slowed.

Auckland resident Navneet Kanwal said he'd heard of the reports of low ticket sales elsewhere and suggested they could be due to a lack of awareness. He told CNN he only realized the tournament was being hosted in Auckland last week from a friend, but was nonetheless excited. 

New Zealand has broken the deadlock, shocking favorites Norway with the tournament's opening goal.

The goal saw New Zealand's Hannah Wilkinson connect with an inch-perfect cross from teammate Jacqui Hand, tapping home from close range and sending the packed-out home crowd at Auckland's Eden Park wild.

The Women's World Cup opening ceremony in Auckland featured dancers dressed in jerseys representing all 32 participating nations.

Among the dancers were Sarah Duffy and her daughter, who plays for a local club. Duffy said they had five weekends of rehearsals and a few dress rehearsals before Thursday's performance. 

She praised the show's coordinators as "incredible," adding, "their vision, their patience and their kindness, they're amazing."