Film about unofficial 1971 women’s World Cup screens in New Zealand

An award-winning film about the first women’s World Cup — and the players who were banned for taking part — is being screened at cinemas throughout New Zealand.

COPA 71 provides the chance for football fans to watch the film at their local cinema, or for clubs and teams to organise special screenings.

Clubs such as Cambridge FC, Victoria University AFC, Columba College and Seatoun AFC have already arranged fundraiser nights through their local cinemas.

The documentary, which tells the story of the 1971 Women’s Soccer World Cup, opened at selected cinemas in New Zealand on May 23, 2024.

Told by the pioneering women who participated in the tournament, and built from archive footage unseen for fifty years, this is the extraordinary story of a tournament witnessed by record crowds that has been written out of sporting history — until now.

The 1971 World Cup was not sanctioned by FIFA, and women players were banned from taking part, but it went ahead in Mexico.

Mexico’s biggest stadiums — the 110,000-seat Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, and the 56,000-seat Jalisco Stadium in Guadalajara — were filled, setting attendance records that still stand today.

The official trailer

Where COPA 71 is screening

Please check cinema website to confirm the movie is still available.

Special screenings

Your club or team can arrange special screenings in two ways:

• Contact your local cinema direct (see list above, with links to their websites)
• Request a special screening by using the online form here >>>>

If you want to promote your screening as a fundraiser event, let us know and we’ll add it to our listings.

Email editor@friendsoffootballnz.com.

Seatoun AFC’s fundraiser

Where: Lighthouse Cuba
Address: 29 Wigan St, Wellington
When: Monday July 15, 2024, starting 5.45pm
Tickets: $25 pp, which includes game of Bingo before movie starts

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