All Christchurch schools are being asked to send children to the welcome ceremony in Victoria Square at 1.15pm on 10 November.

"This is the biggest soccer tournament to come to Christchurch," says David Cox, the chairman of the venue organising committee. "And we will not see a bigger one."

Four teams – Brazil, Australia, Germany and Mali – will play matches at Queen Elizabeth11 Park to semi-final stage with the final in Auckland.

Eight matches will be played at QE11 – two on 12 November, two on 14 November and two on 17 November in round-robin games. Quarterfinals will be held on 21 November with the semi-final on 24 November.

The president of FIFA – soccer’s controlling body – Joseph Blatter will be in Christchurch for the semi-final.

Other FIFA officials will be in Christchurch for the welcome on 10 November when the four national teams and local ball boys-girls will parade at 1.15pm.

The Mayor, Garry Moore, will give the official city welcome and he will also host a civic reception to Mr Blatter and other FIFA officials and heads of delegations that night.

As well as the parade of teams there will be the playing of the championship song – both short and long versions – and the reading of the Declaration of Fair Play by the captain of the Brazilian team. The general co-ordinator of the championship, Samuel Mony, will declare the competition open and release balloons from the park to mark the event.

Banners for the event have been placed around the city and the players are expected to start arriving in Christchurch from 5 November.

Further information:

David Cox: 025 362 403.