Hannah Wilkinson scored a second-half winner to send underdogs New Zealand to a 1-0 win over Norway at Eden Park on Thursday, kicking off their Women’s World Cup campaign at home with an extraordinary upset over the former champions.

New Zealand had never won a World Cup match before and Wilkinson's goal from close range early in the second half, off a laser-like cross from Jacqui Hand, sent the home fans into roars of delight.

The win put New Zealand on the right track toward their goal of getting out of the opening stage of the tournament, as they face debutants the Philippines on Tuesday in a match that had widely been seen as their best chance of winning in Group A.

Tournament co-hosts Australia are set to open their World Cup campaign later on Thursday against the Republic of Ireland in Sydney.