WELLINGTON, New Zealand — At a soccer ground in the Wellington beachside suburb of Island Bay over the weekend, a tall figure with a shock of blue hair greeted a new generation of young soccer fans.
No, it wasn’t Megan Rapinoe. It was a penguin chosen as the official mascot for the Women’s World Cup — or rather a human in a penguin costume.
The tournament kicks off Thursday with an opening game between co-host New Zealand and Norway in Auckland, and in Sydney between the other co-host, Australia, and Ireland.
World Cup 2023
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Along with their shared affinity for vibrant hair colors, Tazuni the penguin is a midfielder like Rapinoe.