AUCKLAND, July 19 (Reuters) - Excitement was building across Auckland as the city prepared to kick off the Women's World Cup on Wednesday, the culmination of years of effort to bring the largest ever standalone women's sporting event to its shores. Auckland will host nine matches at Eden Park across the tournament, including one semi-final. While Australia's Matildas are genuine title contenders, the Football Ferns have never won a match at a Women's World Cup. With digital billboards popping up around Auckland featuring the women's home team, Chance said she is already seeing signs of change. The ninth Women's World Cup runs until Aug. 20 when the final takes place in Sydney.

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Persons: Santha Brown, Brown, We've, Australia's, Fern Olivia Chance, Chance, Amy Tennery, Nathan Frandino, Peter Rutherford Organizations: AUCKLAND, New Zealand's Football Ferns, Norway, FIFA, Eden, Football Ferns, Veteran, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Auckland, Eden, Queen's, New Zealand, Australia, America, Sydney