Large numbers of Americans travel to New Zealand in support of the USWNT at Women's World Cup

Thousands of American fans have traveled to New Zealand to support the U.S. women's national soccer team at the Women's World Cup.

Despite being jet-lagged and dressed in comfortable sweats, a group of dedicated fans of the U.S. women's national team stood out in their vibrant red, white, and blue costumes at the opening match of the Women's World Cup in Auckland. Surprisingly, the Americans were not even playing that day. The team's first match was scheduled for Saturday against Vietnam. However, fans like David Tritz from Laguna Hills, Calif., couldn't resist showing their support and wore full-body, stars-and-stripes rain suits to witness co-host New Zealand's surprise victory over Norway. Tritz, accompanied by his wife and five daughters, who are all soccer players, made the journey to New Zealand to cheer on the reigning World Cup champions. They had previously attended the 2015 World Cup, where they witnessed the U.S. team secure their third title by defeating Japan. This time, they plan to attend several games in both New Zealand and Australia.

Tritz and his family are just a fraction of the estimated 20,000 Americans who have traveled to New Zealand to support their team. Around 9,000 of them have joined a Facebook community created by Kristen Pariseau three years ago. This online community has served as a platform for fans to connect, organize post-match meetups, and seek travel advice from locals. Pariseau, a former hockey enthusiast from Michigan, developed a passion for soccer after moving to Atlanta. Inspired by her wife's desire to see her home country's team at the 2018 men's World Cup in Russia, Pariseau attended the tournament and became captivated by the atmosphere. Regretting not attending the 2019 Women's World Cup, she immediately started saving for the 2023 edition. After four years of anticipation, she and her wife flew first class from Mexico to Australia, making a brief stop in Mexico City and Los Angeles.

Once in Auckland, Pariseau proudly displays two banners she made, which bear the names of injured players Becky Sauerbrunn and Mallory Swanson, urging the team to win the tournament for them. The spirit of supporting the U.S. women's team seems to extend to many families. Dave Perry, an 84-year-old U.S. military veteran, attended the 2019 World Cup with his wife to celebrate their 50th anniversary. This time, he brought his two daughters, whom he had coached in their youth soccer leagues. Another dedicated fan, Steff Colonna, is attending her third Women's World Cup. As a former college soccer player and a long-time follower of the U.S. women's national team, she believes in the team's ability to bring visibility and recognition to women's soccer and women's sports in general. Colonna, who resides in San Diego, is a loyal supporter of the U.S. team and attends events organized by the American Outlaws, an unofficial support group for American national soccer teams.

These passionate fans are willing to invest time and money to support their team, recognizing the impact the U.S. women's national team has on women's sports as a whole. Their unwavering dedication reflects their love for the team and their pride in being part of a nation that boasts the number one women's soccer team in the world.

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