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New Zealand Slow to Embrace Women's World Cup: Narrative Intelligence Brief

July 19, 2023EdgeTheory

Synopsis

The media narrative surrounding the Women's World Cup in New Zealand suggests that the country is slow to embrace the tournament, despite FIFA selling 1.4 million tickets for the event across Australia and New Zealand. Soccer is not widely supported in New Zealand, where rugby dominates as the national sport.

Rolling Updates

Our Kudzu Narrative Intelligence briefs auto-update every few hours with fresh analysis:

Headline Issues

1. Lack of Enthusiasm in New Zealand

Despite the Women's World Cup being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand in 2023, there is a perception that New Zealand is slow to embrace the tournament. The lack of widespread support for soccer in the country, where rugby is the dominant sport, may be contributing to this narrative.

Key Takeaways:

  • Soccer is not widely supported in New Zealand, with rugby being the national sport.
  • The media narrative suggests that there is a lack of enthusiasm for the Women's World Cup in the country.

2. FIFA Ticket Sales

FIFA has reported selling 1.4 million tickets for the Women's World Cup across Australia and New Zealand. However, there are concerns that ticket sales in New Zealand are not as strong as expected, with only six matches close to being sold out.

Key Takeaways:

  • FIFA has sold 1.4 million tickets for the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
  • Only six matches in New Zealand are close to being sold out, raising concerns about ticket sales in the country.

3. Rugby Dominance

Rugby is the dominant sport in New Zealand, which may explain the slower embrace of the Women's World Cup. The strong cultural attachment to rugby may overshadow the popularity of soccer in the country.

Key Takeaways:

  • Rugby is the national sport in New Zealand, overshadowing the popularity of soccer.
  • The dominance of rugby in the country may contribute to the slower embrace of the Women's World Cup.

Insights on Top Surfaced Keywords

All Sources in U.S. Media

The top surfaced keywords in U.S. media provide insights into the most discussed topics related to women's soccer and the Women's World Cup. The keywords that appear more frequently indicate their relevance and prominence in the narrative. Here are some observations:

  • "free tickets"
  • "prize money"
  • "sam kerr"
  • "ada hegerberg"

Found Only in All Sources in U.S. Media

When comparing the keywords found only in U.S. media, some interesting patterns emerge. The keywords "free tickets," "final in los," "all-time leading," "national women's soccer," "women's world cups," and "ballon d'or" appear to be specific to the U.S. media narrative. These keywords reflect the emphasis on ticket availability, the significance of the Women's World Cup finals, the achievements of leading players, and the recognition of outstanding performances.

Found Only in Left-Leaning in U.S. Media

In the left-leaning U.S. media sources, keywords like "opening game," "world cup opener," and "previous appearances" indicate a focus on the early stages of the tournament and the history of teams' participation. Additionally, the presence of keywords like "aiming to win" and "women's super soccer league" suggests a narrative that highlights the competitive spirit and the development of women's soccer.

Found Only in Right-Leaning in U.S. Media

Keywords found only in right-leaning U.S. media sources reveal a different narrative focus. Keywords like "free gift," "cup kicks," and "live in mansions" indicate a different perspective, potentially emphasizing attention-grabbing elements or controversial aspects. The presence of keywords like "norway coach" and "ballon d'or award" suggests a focus on individual achievements and the international soccer landscape.

Found Only in Sources in European Media

European media sources provide additional insights into the Women's World Cup narrative.  The presence of keywords like "england's lionesses," "golden boot," and "vivianne miedema" indicates a focus on specific teams and players, showcasing the European perspective on the competition.

Womens World Cup amplification distribution by keyword-dynamics

Left-Leaning in U.S. Media

Womens World Cup amplification distribution by keyword-dynamics

All Sources in U.S. Media

Womens World Cup amplification distribution by keyword-dynamics

Right-Leaning in U.S. Media

Womens World Cup amplification distribution by keyword-dynamics

Sources in European Media

Insights on Bias in U.S. Media

Our Narrative Intelligence provides valuable insights on bias in U.S. media. In our Kudzu Narrative Intelligence Briefs, we use our Narrative AI and Narrative Technology to analyze media coverage across different political leanings.  Below is the coverage distribution based on bias:

left-center sources: 8 sources

least bias: 7 sources

Left bias: 2 sources

Right-center bias: 1 source

Right bias sources: 1 source

Left-center bias sources have double the instances compared to right-center and right bias sources.

Additionally, left-center bias sources have triple the instances compared to left bias sources.

These findings highlight the numerical differences in media coverage across political leanings and provide important insights into bias in U.S. media.

Note: Kudzu Narrative Intelligence briefs update every few hours. Very likely, the Narrative Analysis data visualization depicted in the graphic above will have changed as well.

Image Credit for Article Header: Photo by Connor Coyne on Unsplash

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