Dreams Come True: Soccer's Gabi Rennie Begins World Cup Adventure

NEW ZEALAND – With the days to the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup counting down, Gabi Rennie and the New Zealand team are making preparations for the start of games on their home turf. 

"This is a home World Cup, which is never going to happen again in my lifetime, so to be a part of it as a player is pretty surreal. I'm definitely letting myself enjoy that and letting that pressure come in because I think it is a privilege to have that good kind of pressure," says Rennie.

Rennie says being at camp and in the bubble helps her zero in on the task at hand. The Ferns have replicated the same environment they have had at all their past camps which helps Rennie focus on her one-on-one's and getting her job done on the training and playing fields. The Sun Devil forward most recently played for New Zealand in the Tokyo Olympics.

Rennie went straight from finishing exams in Tempe in May to flying home to New Zealand to start a nine-week camp in Auckland. She considers having the World Cup at home a privilege. 

"All of the girls that weren't playing in their leagues overseas came over to train together early," which is something that the players on the Fern squad don't usually get to indulge in. But after nine weeks of training, Gabi was able to go home and see friends and family. "That was very lovely and a nice reset for me."

In late June, early July of 2019 was when Gabi realized that playing in the World Cup was possible for her and other young girls like her. Rennie watched the World Cups growing up, but since New Zealand hasn't had much previous success in them, she grew up watching the United States dominate past World Cups.

"When USA won the 2019 World Cup, that was something that was really exciting for me to watch as a young player, and I think it shows a good level of football being played on the world stage and I think it inspired a lot of young girls that it was achievable for them," Rennie said. When the United States defeated the Netherlands in a 2-0 championship battle, Rennie learned she too could play on the world stage one day.

When asked which city she is most excited to play in during the group play part of the World Cup, Rennie couldn't decide. Group play for the Ferns starts on Thursday July 20th when they play Norway in Auckland and will be followed by a contest against the Philippines in Wellington. Against Norway, Rennie and the Ferns will be playing in a sold out Eden Park, which is the biggest stadium in New Zealand. Rennie couldn't hold her excitement when talking about playing in Eden Park,

"To play football in Eden Park, and hopefully win in a sold out stadium, I think it's going to be pretty amazing," Rennie said. "In Wellington I have some family members so that one is going to be really cool."

New Zealand's final game in group play is on July 30th against Switzerland. This game will be played in Dunedin which is on the South Island of New Zealand, which is where Rennie grew up.

"That is where all of my family and friends can come," explained Rennie. "That one is going to be a very special one for me, so I'm very, very excited."

Not only is Rennie making history as a Sun Devil playing on the world stage, but she is striving to make history for the New Zealand team. New Zealand has never won a game in the World Cup, but now with it being at home with its fan base behind it, it's more possible now than ever.

Said Rennie, "Just playing at home, we've had a couple matches at home now because of this World Cup, and it's just a whole different feeling having that home crowd. It's something that I never really thought that I'd get to experience before, wearing the Fern on my chest and playing in front of my country. It is a very, very unreal feeling,

"So to do that at a World Cup, and potentially get a win out of this, I think it's what the little you dreams of when you're envisioning your future. As a team, that is something we are really pushing for, it's driving a lot of our motivation and decisions. For me, it would be a real dream come true."

New Zealand Women's 2023 World Cup Group Stage Schedule

Thursday, July 20 against Norway

• New Zealand won 1-0
• First time in country's history they have won a FIFA World Cup game (men's or women's)
• Gabi Rennie subbed in at the 93' for her first ever appearance at the World Cup

Monday, July 24 against Philippines

• Lost to the Philippines 0-1

Sunday, July 30 against Switzerland

• 0-0 tie with Switzerland
• Gabi Rennie subbed in at the 81' for her second appearance at the World Cup, she played for approximately 17 minutes with extra time added