New Zealand women's national football team

The New Zealand women's national football team (recognised as Aotearoa New Zealand by FIFA)[3] is governed by New Zealand Football (NZF). They are nicknamed the Football Ferns.

New Zealand
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Football Ferns[1]
AssociationNew Zealand Football
ConfederationOFC (Oceania)
Head coachJitka Klimková
CaptainAli Riley
Most capsRia Percival (166)
Top scorerAmber Hearn (54)
FIFA codeNZL
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 28 Increase 2 (15 March 2024)[2]
Highest16 (December 2013, July 2015 – March 2016)
Lowest30 (December 2023)
First international
 New Zealand 2–0 Hong Kong 
(Hong Kong; 25 August 1975)
Biggest win
 New Zealand 21–0 Samoa 
(Auckland, New Zealand; 9 October 1998)
Biggest defeat
 North Korea 11–0 New Zealand 
(Brisbane, Australia; 24 February 2004)
World Cup
Appearances6 (first in 1991)
Best resultGroup stage (1991, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023)
Olympic Games
Appearances4 (first in 2008)
Best resultQuarter-finals (2012)
OFC Women's Nations Cup
Appearances11 (first in 1983)
Best resultChampions (1983, 1991, 2007, 2010, 2014, 2018)

The New Zealand national team has taken part in the FIFA Women's World Cup six times, making their debut in 1991.[4] New Zealand co-hosted the 2023 World Cup alongside Australia.[5] They have failed to go past the group stage in all occasions.

History edit

The New Zealand Women's Soccer Association was founded in 1975. By invitation, the team took part in the Asian Women's Championship in 1975 and won the championship.[6] They have since then played in the Oceanic Championship.

As Australia left the OFC, New Zealand had no serious and competitive rivals in Oceania. This made New Zealand's qualification to the World Cup and Olympics easier having contested every edition of both tournaments since 2007.

2023 FIFA Women's World Cup edit

New Zealand co-hosted the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup along with Australia after being awarded it on 25 June 2020 as the favourites over other bidder Colombia. The Football Ferns automatically qualified as co-host. Despite winning their opening match against Norway, they suffered a shocking loss to debutants Philippines and later drew to Switzerland in their final match, and were eliminated. This was the first time the hosts were eliminated from the group stage. They only managed to score one goal during the tournament.[7]

Team image edit

The New Zealand women's national football team are also known by their nickname the "Football Ferns".[1] Like their male counterparts, the team has traditionally worn all white kits. For the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, the Football Ferns switched to an all black first choice kit reminiscent of the New Zealand national rugby union team, as well as the country's national teams in other sports, including rugby league, field hockey, netball, basketball, volleyball, and limited overs cricket. The away kit pairs the traditional white shirts and socks with turquoise shorts.[8]

FIFA world rankings edit

As of 14 July 2021[9]

  Worst Ranking    Best Ranking    Worst Mover    Best Mover  

New Zealand's FIFA world rankings
Rank Year Games
Played
Won Lost Drawn Best Worst
Rank Move Rank Move
22 2021 1 0 1 0 22   0 22   0

Results and fixtures edit

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.[10][11]

Legend

  Win   Draw   Lose   Fixture

2023 edit

23 February Friendly New Zealand   0–1   Argentina Auckland, New Zealand
19:00 NZT Report
Stadium: North Harbour Stadium
Attendance: 3,914[12]
Referee: Tatiana Guzmán (Nicaragua)[13]
11 April Friendly New Zealand   0–3   Nigeria Antalya, Turkey
16:00 UTC+3 Report
Stadium: Mardan Sports Complex
Referee: Arda Kardeşler (Turkey)
10 July Friendly New Zealand   2–0   Vietnam Napier, New Zealand
17:30 NZT
Report Stadium: McLean Park
Attendance: 6,215
Referee: Rebecca Durcau (Australia)
14 July Friendly New Zealand   0–1   Italy Auckland, New Zealand
19:00 Report
Stadium: Keith Hay Park
Attendance: 0 (Behind closed doors)
20 July FIFA WC Group New Zealand   1–0   Norway Auckland, New Zealand
19:00 NZT
Report Stadium: Eden Park
Attendance: 42,137
Referee: Yoshimi Yamashita (Japan)
25 July FIFA WC Group New Zealand   0–1   Philippines Wellington, New Zealand
17:30 NZT Report Stadium: Wellington Regional Stadium
Attendance: 32,357
Referee: Katia García (Mexico)
30 July FIFA WC Group Switzerland   0–0   New Zealand Dunedin, New Zealand
19:00 NZT Report Stadium: Forsyth Barr Stadium
Attendance: 25,947
Referee: Tori Penso (United States)
23 September Friendly Chile   3–0   New Zealand Santiago, Chile
19:00 UTC−3
Report Stadium: Estadio Bicentenario de La Florida
Attendance: 5,341[14]
Referee: Nadia Fuques (Uruguay)
26 September Friendly Chile   2–1   New Zealand Santiago, Chile
11:00 UTC−3
Report
Stadium: Quilín Complex
Attendance: 0 (Behind closed doors)
2 December Friendly Colombia   0–0   New Zealand Bogotá, Colombia
16:00 UTC−5 Report Stadium: Estadio El Campin
Referee: Angelina Rodas (Paraguay)
5 December Friendly Colombia   1–0   New Zealand Bogotá, Colombia
15:00 UTC−5
Report Stadium: Estadio Metropolitano de Techo
Attendance: 0 (Behind closed doors)
Referee: Zulma Quiñónez (Paraguay)

2024 edit

7 February OFC Olympic Qualifying New Zealand   3–0   Tonga Apia, Samoa
13:00 UTC+13
Report Stadium: FFS Football Stadium (Field 1)
Referee: Ben Aukwai (Solomon Islands)
10 February OFC Olympic Qualifying New Zealand   6–0   Samoa Apia, Samoa
17:00 UTC+13
Report Stadium: FFS Football Stadium (Field 1)
Referee: David Yareboinen (Papua New Guinea)
13 February OFC Olympic Qualifying Vanuatu   0–5   New Zealand Apia, Samoa
16:00 UTC+13 Report
Stadium: FFS Football Stadium (Field 2)
Referee: Kavitesh Behari (Fiji)
16 February OFC Olympic Qualifying New Zealand   7–1   Fiji Apia, Samoa
17:00
Report
Stadium: FFS Football Stadium (Field 1)
Referee: David Yareboinen (Papua New Guinea)
19 February OFC Olympic Qualifying Solomon Islands   1–11   New Zealand Apia, Samoa
17:00
Report
Stadium: FFS Football Stadium (Field 1)
Referee: Norbert Hauata (Tahiti)
6 April Friendly New Zealand   v   Thailand Christchurch, New Zealand
15:00 UTC+13 Source Stadium: Rugby League Park
9 April Friendly New Zealand   v   Thailand Christchurch, New Zealand
19:00 UTC+12 Source Stadium: Rugby League Park
28 July Olympics GS New Zealand   v   Colombia Décines-Charpieu, France
06:00 UTC+13 Stadium: Stade de Lyon
31 July Olympics GS New Zealand   v   France Décines-Charpieu, France
10:00 UTC+13 Stadium: Stade de Lyon

Coaching staff edit

Current coaching staff edit

Position Name Ref.
Head coach   Jitka Klimková [15]

Manager history edit

[16]

Players edit

Current squad edit

  • The following 24 players were named to the squad for the 2024 OFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament between 7 and 19 February 2024.[39] Elizabeth Anton was only available for the opening game and Annalie Longo, Macey Fraser and Grace Neville also all pulled out during the tournament due to injury.

Caps and goals are current as of 19 February 2024 after the match against   Solomon Islands.[40]

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Anna Leat (2001-06-26) 26 June 2001 (age 22) 15 0   Aston Villa
21 1GK Victoria Esson (1991-03-06) 6 March 1991 (age 33) 22 0   Rangers
22 1GK Brianna Edwards (2003-01-27) 27 January 2003 (age 21) 1 0   Wellington Phoenix

2 2DF Kate Taylor (2003-10-21) 21 October 2003 (age 20) 15 1   Wellington Phoenix
3 2DF Claudia Bunge (captain) (1999-09-21) 21 September 1999 (age 24) 28 0   HB Køge
4 2DF Mackenzie Barry (2001-04-11) 11 April 2001 (age 22) 14 0   Wellington Phoenix
5 2DF Michaela Foster (1999-01-09) 9 January 1999 (age 25) 15 1   Wellington Phoenix
11 2DF Ally Green (1998-08-17) 17 August 1998 (age 25) 11 2   AGF
13 2DF Rebekah Stott (1993-06-17) 17 June 1993 (age 30) 100 4   Melbourne City
14 2DF Katie Bowen (1994-04-15) 15 April 1994 (age 29) 105 4   Inter Milan

7 3MF Katie Kitching (1998-09-06) 6 September 1998 (age 25) 6 2   Sunderland
8 3MF Daisy Cleverley (1997-04-30) 30 April 1997 (age 26) 36 2   HB Køge
12 3MF Betsy Hassett (1990-08-04) 4 August 1990 (age 33) 157 16   Stjarnan
18 3MF Grace Jale (1999-04-10) 10 April 1999 (age 24) 27 9   Perth Glory

9 4FW Gabi Rennie (2001-07-07) 7 July 2001 (age 22) 31 2 Unattached
10 4FW Ruby Nathan (2005-10-11) 11 October 2005 (age 18) 5 1   Canberra United
16 4FW Jacqui Hand (1999-02-19) 19 February 1999 (age 25) 23 7   Lewes
17 4FW Hannah Wilkinson (1992-05-28) 28 May 1992 (age 31) 122 31   Melbourne City
19 4FW Ava Collins (2002-04-18) 18 April 2002 (age 21) 16 0   St. John's Red Storm
20 4FW Indiah-Paige Riley (2001-12-20) 20 December 2001 (age 22) 21 6   PSV

Recent call-ups edit

The following players have been called up within the last 12 months and remain eligible for selection.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Erin Nayler (1992-04-17) 17 April 1992 (age 31) 84 0   Bayern Munich 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup
GK Murphy Sheaff (2003-09-12) 12 September 2003 (age 20) 0 0   Jacksonville Dolphins v.   Nigeria, 11 April 2023

DF Elizabeth Anton (1998-12-12) 12 December 1998 (age 25) 20 0   Perth Glory 2024 OFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
DF Grace Neville (2000-04-09) 9 April 2000 (age 23) 8 0   London City Lionesses 2024 OFC Women's Olympic Qualifying TournamentINJ
DF Meikayla Moore (1996-06-04) 4 June 1996 (age 27) 63 4   Glasgow City v.   Colombia, 5 December 2023
DF Ali Riley (captain) (1987-10-30) 30 October 1987 (age 36) 159 2   Angel City v.   Colombia, 2 December 2023INJ
DF CJ Bott (1995-04-22) 22 April 1995 (age 28) 42 3   Leicester City v.   Chile, 23 September 2023

MF Annalie Longo (1991-07-01) 1 July 1991 (age 32) 133 15   Wellington Phoenix 2024 OFC Women's Olympic Qualifying TournamentINJ
MF Macey Fraser (2002-07-11) 11 July 2002 (age 21) 3 2   Wellington Phoenix 2024 OFC Women's Olympic Qualifying TournamentINJ
MF Malia Steinmetz (1999-01-18) 18 January 1999 (age 25) 27 0   Nordsjælland v.   Colombia, 5 December 2023
MF Ria Percival (vice-captain) (1989-12-07) 7 December 1989 (age 34) 166 15   Crystal Palace 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup
MF Olivia Chance (1993-10-05) 5 October 1993 (age 30) 47 2   Celtic 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup

FW Paige Satchell (1998-04-13) 13 April 1998 (age 25) 48 2   London City Lionesses v.   Colombia, 5 December 2023
FW Hannah Blake (2000-05-05) 5 May 2000 (age 23) 6 0   Adelaide United v.   Colombia, 5 December 2023
FW Milly Clegg (2005-11-01) 1 November 2005 (age 18) 4 0   Racing Louisville v.   Chile, 26 September 2023
FW Grace Wisnewski (2002-06-28) 28 June 2002 (age 21) 2 0   Wellington Phoenix v.   Chile, 26 September 2023

Notes:

  • RET Retired from national team.
  • PRE Preliminary squad / standby
  • UNV Made themselves unavailable for selection
  • INJ Withdrew due to an injury.
  • COVID Withdrew due to COVID–19.
  • TOP Train-on player.

Captains edit

[41]

Current New Zealand co-captain

Records edit

Bold players are still active.

Statistics as of 19 February 2024.[41]
 
Ria Percival is the most capped player
 
Amber Hearn is the all-time top scorer

Most capped players edit

# Player Years Caps Goals
1 Ria Percival 2006– 166 15
2 Ali Riley 2007– 159 2
3 Betsy Hassett 2008– 157 16
4 Abby Erceg 2006–2022 146 6
5 Annalie Longo 2006– 133 15
6 Amber Hearn 2004–2018 125 54
7 Katie Duncan 2006–2019 124 1
8 Hannah Wilkinson 2010– 122 31
9 Rosie White 2009–2021 111 24
10 Katie Bowen 2011– 105 4

Top goalscorers edit

# Player Years Goals Caps
1 Amber Hearn (list) 2004–2018 54 125
2 Wendy Sharpe 1980–1995 34 51
Sarah Gregorius 2010–2020 34 100
4 Hannah Wilkinson 2010– 31 122
5 Rosie White 2009–2021 24 111
6 Maureen Jacobson 1979–1996 17 53
Wendi Henderson 1987–2007 17 64
8 Betsy Hassett 2008– 16 157
9 Pernille Andersen 1998 15 7
Annalie Longo 2006– 15 133
Ria Percival 2006– 15 166

Honours edit

Continental edit

  Champions: 1983, 1991, 2007, 2010, 2014, 2018
  Runners-up: 1989, 1994, 1998, 2003
  Champions: 1975

Competitive record edit

FIFA Women's World Cup edit

New Zealand's FIFA Women's World Cup record Qualification record
Year Host Round Pos Pld W D* L GF GA Squad Outcome Pld W D L GF GA
1991   China Group stage 11th 3 0 0 3 1 11 Squad Qualified 4 3 0 1 28 1
1995   Sweden Did not qualify 2nd 4 3 0 1 10 2
1999   United States 2nd 4 3 0 1 41 3
2003   United States 2nd 4 3 0 1 29 2
2007   China Group stage 14th 3 0 0 3 0 9 Squad Qualified 3 3 0 0 21 1
2011   Germany 12th 3 0 1 2 4 6 Squad Qualified 5 5 0 0 50 0
2015   Canada 19th 3 0 2 1 2 3 Squad Qualified 3 3 0 0 30 0
2019   France 20th 3 0 0 3 1 5 Squad Qualified 5 5 0 0 43 0
2023   Australia
  New Zealand
20th 3 1 1 1 1 1 Squad Qualified as co-hosts
Total Group stage 6/9 18 1 4 13 9 35 32 28 0 4 252 9

Olympic Games edit

Summer Olympics record
Year Host Round Pos Pld W D L GF GA GD Squad
1996   United States Did not qualify
2000   Australia
2004   Greece Did not enter
2008   China Group stage 10th 3 0 1 2 2 7 −5 Squad
2012   United Kingdom Quarter-finals 8th 4 1 0 3 3 5 −2 Squad
2016   Brazil Group stage 9th 3 1 0 2 1 5 −4 Squad
2020   Japan Group stage 12th 3 0 0 3 2 10 −8 Squad
2024   France Qualifed
Total Quarter-finals 5/8 13 2 1 10 8 27 −19

OFC Women's Nations Cup edit

OFC Women's Nations Cup record
Year Host Result Pld W D L GF GA GD
1983   New Caledonia Champions 4 3 1 0 24 3 +21
1986   New Zealand Third place 4 2 0 2 3 3 0
1989   Australia Runners-up 5 4 0 1 10 1 +9
1991   Australia Champions 4 3 0 1 28 1 +27
1994   Papua New Guinea Runners-up 4 3 0 1 10 2 +8
1998   New Zealand Runners-up 4 3 0 1 41 3 +38
2003   Australia Runners-up 4 3 0 1 29 2 +27
2007   Papua New Guinea Champions 3 3 0 0 21 1 +20
2010   New Zealand Champions 5 5 0 0 50 0 +50
2014   Papua New Guinea Champions 3 3 0 0 30 0 +30
2018   New Caledonia Champions 5 5 0 0 43 0 +43
2022   Fiji Did not enter
Total 6 titles 45 37 1 7 289 16 +273

AFC Women's Asian Cup edit

AFC Women's Asian Cup record
Year Result Position Pld W D L GF GA
Invitee
  1975 Champions 1st 4 4 0 0 11 3
Total 1 title 1/1 4 4 0 0 11 3

Algarve Cup edit

The Algarve Cup is an invitational tournament for national teams in women's association football hosted by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF). Held annually in the Algarve region of Portugal since 1994, it is one of the most prestigious and longest-running women's international football events and has been nicknamed the "Mini FIFA Women's World Cup".[42]

  Algarve Cup record
Year Result Matches Wins Draws Losses GF GA GD
2016 4th place 4 1 2 1 2 2 0
2020 4th place 3 0 1 2 2 6 −4
Total 2/27 7 1 3 3 4 8 −4

SheBelieves Cup edit

The SheBelieves Cup is a global invitational tournament for national teams in women's soccer hosted in the United States.

  SheBelieves Cup record
Year Result Matches Wins Draws Losses GF GA GD
2016 Did not enter
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022 4th 3 0 1 2 0 6 −6
Total 1/7 3 0 1 2 0 6 −6

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Soccer women step out with new name – Football Ferns". Stuff.co.nz. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  2. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Aotearoa New Zealand". FIFA. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  4. ^ "1975 ASIAN CUP". New Zealand Football on NZfootball.co.nz. Archived from the original on 2 September 2007. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
  5. ^ Diamond, Drew (12 November 2023). "World Cup legacy continues to take effect in Aotearoa-New Zealand". Her Football Hub. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  6. ^ "1975". RSSSF. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  7. ^ "New Zealand makes history by being ousted in group stage, as Group A is settled". Fox Sports. 31 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Nike unveils Football Ferns FIFA World Cup team kits and innovative period wear". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  9. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking – Associations – New Zealand – Women's". FIFA. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  10. ^ https://int.soccerway.com/teams/new-zealand/new-zealand/5980/matches/
  11. ^ https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/neuseeland-frauen-team/21/
  12. ^ "Attendances rising for women's football games ahead of FIFA World Cup". friendsoffootballnz.com. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  13. ^ "New Zealand–Argentina: Key details and streaming info". FIFA. 22 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  14. ^ "Chile 3–0 New Zealand". ESPN. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Ferns coach to take side through to 2023 Women's World Cup revealed". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  16. ^ "Coaching Records". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Page 6. Women's international football". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 5 September 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2024. The first head coach of the national women's team was Wellington-based Dave Farrington, who held the role from 1975 to 1979.
  18. ^ "Fan discovers grandad among locker room legends". FIFA Museum. FIFA. 9 September 2016. Armstrong would also later take the coaching reins of the New Zealand women' side in 1980.
  19. ^ a b Smith, Tony (25 May 2023). "From 70s restart to Fifa Women's World Cup hosting - NZ football's remarkable revival". Stuff. Roy Cox - rated by women's football historian Jeremy Ruane as "the godfather" of the women's game - had a coaching wins ratio of 56% from 1983 to 1987 - and Dave Boardman (1988-94) 55 %.
  20. ^ Riddle, Charles (18 August 2017). "Obituary: Waikato women's football pioneer ahead of his time". Stuff.
  21. ^ Wilson, Sam (23 June 2023). "Football Ferns mourn former player and coach Nora Watkins". Stuff. She later went on to have a hugely successful coaching career at domestic level before taking charge of the national side for a two-match series against Australia in March 1995 – the first woman to hold that position.
  22. ^ Ruane, Jeremy. "Michele Cox – Quite Simply, The Best". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 3 January 2024. Thus four years of frustration ensued, until the appointment in 1995 of a new national coach, Maurice Tillotson.
  23. ^ Maddaford, Terry. "Soccer: Fallon and the Rufers tipped as coaches for Kings". The New Zealand Herald.
  24. ^ Eriksen, Alanah (6 May 2009). "Ex-All White upset by murder story". The New Zealand Herald.
  25. ^ "Ferns coach to take side through to 2023 Women's World Cup revealed". New Zealand Football. 1 September 2021. former captain Wendi Henderson jointly held the role of coach with fellow former international Ali Grant in October 2004
  26. ^ Maddaford, Terry (26 April 2005). "Soccer: New coach draws side from far and wide". The New Zealand Herald.
  27. ^ Smith, Tony (2 April 2022). "How Māori wisdom helped football coach John Herdman on the road to World Cup glory". Stuff. Aged 31, he took over the Football Ferns coaching for two matches against China in 2006.
  28. ^ Brown, Michael (9 December 2006). "Soccer: Allan Jones' last crusade". The New Zealand Herald.
  29. ^ Maddaford, Terry (1 March 2007). "Soccer: Women's coach quits". The New Zealand Herald.
  30. ^ Runae\f's, Jeremy. "Herdman Embraces "A Massive Responsibility"".
  31. ^ "Herdman finishing as Football Ferns coach". Stuff. 2 September 2011.
  32. ^ "New Football Ferns coach appointed". Radio New Zealand. 14 September 2011.
  33. ^ Voerman, Andrew (2 November 2017). "Departing Football Ferns coach Tony Readings says time right for him to go". Stuff.
  34. ^ "Heraf named as new Ferns Coach". New Zealand Football. 20 December 2017.
  35. ^ "New Zealand women's football coach resigns amid alleged 'toxic culture'". The Guardian. 31 July 2018.
  36. ^ "Sermanni named as Ferns Head Coach". New Zealand Football. 26 October 2018.
  37. ^ "Football Ferns coach Tom Sermanni steps down". 1116 SEN. 10 June 2021.
  38. ^ Voerman, Andrew (1 September 2021). "Former age-group coach Jitka Klimková to take charge of Football Ferns until 2027". Stuff.
  39. ^ "Ford Football Ferns squad named for OFC Women's Olympic Qualifier tournament". 1 February 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  40. ^ "Caps 'n' Goals". ultimatenzsoccer.com. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  41. ^ a b "Roll of Honour". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Archived from the original on 22 July 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  42. ^ "Women's game thriving in the Algarve". FIFA. 9 March 2011. Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2014.

External links edit

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Inaugural Champions
OFC Women's Champions
1983 (first title)
Succeeded by
Preceded by OFC Women's Champions
1991 (second title)
Succeeded by
Preceded by OFC Women's Champions
2007 (third title)
2010 (fourth title)
2014 (fifth title)
2018 (sixth title)
Succeeded by
Incumbents
Preceded by
Inaugural Champions
AFC Women's Champions
1975 (first title)
Succeeded by