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Sports5.9 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes New Zealand Hours After Tottenham Arrival
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A 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck New Zealand on July 24, 2026, just hours after Tottenham Hotspur's senior squad landed in Auckland for their pre-season tour. The epicentre was located 146 miles south of Auckland near Taumarunui. Geonet classified the tremor as severe, and authorities warned of aftershocks. The team, based in Auckland, did not feel strong tremors and reported no injuries. The Lilywhites will proceed with scheduled matches against Auckland FC, Sydney, and Chelsea. Several key players, including Xavi Simons and Mohamed Kudus, remained in London for injury rehabilitation. The article also notes that six players were granted extended rest after the World Cup.
Source report
The Lilywhites safely avoided a frightening natural disaster shortly after landing in Auckland for their vital overseas tour.
Tottenham Hotspur's senior squad touched down in New Zealand on Saturday morning, only for the region to be struck by a severe 5.9 magnitude earthquake hours later. Head coach Roberto De Zerbi and his players were not near the epicentre, which hit approximately 146 miles south of their Auckland base near Taumarunui.
Geonet, the official seismic monitoring agency, tracked the event and classified the tremor as severe. Authorities have urged residents to remain cautious of potential aftershocks over the weekend. The North London club is based nearly 150 miles north of the affected zone and did not experience strong tremors.
The travelling party received emergency mobile phone notifications about the incident. While New Zealand experiences numerous earthquakes each year, residents reported feeling the full force of this particular morning shock. Evening Standard journalist Arthur Ferridge highlighted the severity, writing: "Some locals were quoted in the local press as saying it was the strongest quake they had felt for some time."
New Zealand rocked by 'severe' earthquake hours after Tottenham arrive for pre-season #THFC — Standard Sport (@standardsport) July 24, 2026
Local authorities have reported no injuries, though some minor structural road damage has been noted. The Lilywhites will proceed with their scheduled matches against Auckland FC, Sydney, and Chelsea.
De Zerbi Must Navigate Opening Fixtures Without Key Senior Players
The travelling squad faces the reigning A-League champions at Eden Park early on Sunday morning (UK time). The ambitious tactician left several prominent first-team figures back at Hotspur Way in London to complete essential medical protocols.
Attacking stars Xavi Simons, Mohamed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski, and Wilson Odobert all remained in England to continue their injury rehabilitation programmes.
Additionally, the club granted six players extended rest following their demanding summer World Cup campaigns. Club captain Cristian Romero and English fullback Djed Spence received additional time off before rejoining their teammates. The manager must now rely heavily on alternative options and academy talents during this opening fixture.
Thankfully 146 miles south from here in Auckland and nobody hurt down there at this point, but a severe earthquake alert was not what I was expecting shortly after arriving to cover the first leg of Spurs' tour. https://t.co/4xamwb95ro — Alasdair Gold (@AlasdairGold) July 24, 2026
Delivering a disciplined tactical performance remains the primary focus for the entire roster despite the frightening morning disruption. The passionate supporters expect a resolute display against local opposition.
This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.
Source
Yardbarker: SoccerWestern
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5.9 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes New Zealand Hours After Tottenham Arrival for Pre-Season Tour