Dunedin's mayor has confirmed the city managed to attract the 2015 Fifa under 20 World Cup at about a third of the original expected cost.

City representatives yesterday announced Forsyth Barr Stadium - renamed the Otago Stadium for the cup - would host seven matches of the 24 nation event.

They would not reveal the cost to ratepayers of hosting a tournament the city initially backed away from because of a possible $1m cost.

But Mayor Dave Cull confirmed the costs to the DCC were $150,000 of new spending and $160,000 from existing budgets.