Women's World Cup teams in Auckland said they were shocked but safe after a deadly shooting in the centre of the New Zealand city on the opening day of the tournament Thursday.

The first Women's World Cup to feature 32 teams kicks off on Thursday with New Zealand taking on former winners Norway in the opening game in Auckland before co-hosts Australia face the Republic of Ireland in front of 80,000 fans in Sydney.

The 37-year-old made her World Cup debut in 2003 and is Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 117 goals. She has won the Copa America three times but is yet to lift the World Cup.

Co-hosts Australia will play their opening game of next month's Women's World Cup in front of a full house, a senior FIFA official told AFP Tuesday.

FIFA on Wednesday announced it had struck a deal with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to televise the 2023 Women's World Cup, avoiding a controversial blackout in the 'Big Five' European nations.

Former FIFA Council member Moya Dodd has criticised Gianni Infantino's threat of a Women's World Cup broadcast blackout in Europe this year and said the governing body is responsible for the tournament being historically undervalued.

United States win the Women's World Cup for third time with crushing 5-2 victory over Japan.

Striker Christine Sinclair scores an injury-time penalty for hosts Canada as they edge out China in the opening match of the Women's World Cup.