New Zealand women's national football team

This article is about the women's team. For the men's team, see New Zealand men's national football team.

New Zealand
Nickname(s)Football Ferns[1]
AssociationNew Zealand Football
ConfederationOFC (Oceania)
Head coachMichael Mayne
CaptainAli Riley
Most capsRia Percival (166)
Top scorerAmber Hearn (54)
FIFA codeNZL
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 33 1 (12 June 2025)[2]
Highest16 (December 2013, July 2015 – March 2016)
Lowest32 (December 2024)
First international
  2–0 Hong Kong 
(Hong Kong; 25 August 1975)
Biggest win
  21–0 Samoa 
(Auckland, New Zealand; 9 October 1998)
Biggest defeat
 North Korea 11–0  
(Brisbane, Australia; 24 February 2004)
World Cup
Appearances6 (first in 1991)
Best resultGroup stage (1991, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023)
Olympic Games
Appearances5 (first in 2008)
Best resultQuarter-finals (2012)
OFC Women's Nations Cup
Appearances11 (first in 1983)
Best resultChampions (1983, 1991, 2007, 2010, 2014, 2018)
Medal record
OFC Women's Nations Cup
1983 New Caledonia
1991 Australia
2007 Papua New Guinea
2010 New Zealand
2014 Papua New Guinea Team
2018 New Caledonia Team
1989 Australia
1994 Papua New Guinea
1998 New Zealand
2003 Australia
AFC Women's Championship
1975 Hong Kong
CONCACAF W Championship
1993 United States

The New Zealand women's national football team represents New Zealand in international football competitions, and is governed by New Zealand Football (NZF). They are nicknamed the Football Ferns.

The New Zealand national team has taken part in the FIFA Women's World Cup six times, making their debut in 1991.[3] New Zealand co-hosted the 2023 World Cup alongside Australia.[4] They have failed to go past the group stage in all occasions.

History

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.[5] 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

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, their first World Cup win for either a women's or men's World Cup,[6] they suffered a shocking loss to debutants Philippines and later drew to Switzerland in their final match, and were eliminated after Norway defeated Philippines and finished above New Zealand on goal difference. 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

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

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

See also: 2025 in association football, 2025 in New Zealand football, and FIFA International Match Calendar

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

2024

13 July Friendly   1–1  Zambia Vichy, France
17:00 UTC+2
  • Kitching 67' (pen.)
 Report
Stadium: Stade Louis Darragon
Referee: Audrey Gerbel (France)
25 July Olympics GS Canada  2–1   Saint-Étienne, France
17:00 UTC+2
Report
Stadium: Stade Geoffroy-Guichard
Attendance: 2,674[12]
Referee: Tess Olofsson (Sweden)
28 July Olympics GS   0–2  Colombia Décines-Charpieu, France
17:00 UTC+2 Report
Stadium: Stade de Lyon
Referee: Kim Yu-jeong (South Korea)
31 July Olympics GS   1–2  France Décines-Charpieu, France
21:00 UTC+2
Report
Stadium: Stade de Lyon
Referee: Edina Alves Batista (Brazil)

2025

22 February Friendly Costa Rica  1–1   Santa Ana, Costa Rica
17:00 UTC−6
Report
Stadium: Estadio Piedades de Santa Ana
Attendance: 1,550
Referee: Astrid Gramajo (Guatemala)
25 February Friendly Costa Rica  0–1   Alajuela, Costa Rica
19:00 UTC−6 Report
Stadium: Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto
Referee: Merlin Soto (Honduras)
5 April Friendly Chinese Taipei  Cancelled   Taiwan
Report Attendance: 0 (Behind closed doors)
Note: The match was called off due to issues with the pitch.[13]
8 April Friendly Chinese Taipei  Cancelled   Kaohsiung, Taiwan
18:30 UTC+9 Source Stadium: Kaohsiung Nanzih Football Stadium
Note: The match was called off due to issues with the pitch.[14]
31 May Friendly   1–3  Venezuela San Pedro Alcántara, Spain
18:00 UTC+2
Report
Stadium: Marbella Football Center
Referee: Seth Galia (Gibraltar)
3 June Friendly   2–1  Venezuela Algeciras, Spain
18:00 UTC+2
Report
Stadium: Estadio Nuevo Mirador

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

Position Name
Technical director Andrew Boyens
Head coach Michael Mayne
Assistant coach Jenny Bindon
Assistant coach Callum Holmes
Assistant coach Nikita Runnacles
Goalkeeping coach Will Britt

Manager history

[15]

Players

Main article: List of New Zealand women's international footballers

Current squad

The following players were called up for the friendly matches against Venezuela on 31 May and 3 June 2025. [38]

Caps and goals correct as of 3 June 2025, after the match against Venezuela. [39]
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
21 1GK Victoria Esson (1991-03-06) 6 March 1991 28 0 Rangers
23 1GK Brianna Edwards (2003-01-27) 27 January 2003 1 0 Sydney FC
37 1GK Alina Santos (2003-08-25) 25 August 2003 0 0 University of Denver
2 2DF Kate Taylor (2003-10-21) 21 October 2003 25 2 Dijon
3 2DF Claudia Bunge (1999-09-21) 21 September 1999 35 0 Melbourne Victory
5 2DF Meikayla Moore (1996-06-04) 4 June 1996 71 4 Calgary Wild
13 2DF Rebekah Stott (1993-06-17) 17 June 1993 108 4 Melbourne City
15 2DF Grace Neville (2000-04-09) 9 April 2000 13 0 London City Lionesses
19 2DF Elizabeth Anton (1998-12-12) 12 December 1998 23 0 Kolbotn
24 2DF Ally Green (1998-08-17) 17 August 1998 18 2 Calgary Wild
27 2DF Michaela Foster (1999-01-09) 9 January 1999 25 1 Durham WFC
30 2DF Manaia Elliott (2005-04-21) 21 April 2005 3 0 Wellington Phoenix
10 3MF Annalie Longo (1991-07-01) 1 July 1991 140 15 Wellington Phoenix
12 3MF Betsy Hassett (1990-08-04) 4 August 1990 159 16 Stjarnan
18 3MF Grace Jale (1999-04-10) 10 April 1999 35 9 Wellington Phoenix
26 3MF Maya Hahn (2001-02-07) 7 February 2001 4 1 FFC Turbine Potsdam
29 3MF Katie Kitching (1998-11-30) 30 November 1998 18 6 Sunderland
32 3MF Emma Pijnenburg (2004-09-13) 13 September 2004 3 0 Feyenoord
33 3MF Grace Wisnewski (2002-06-28) 28 June 2002 3 0 Lexington SC
9 4FW Milly Clegg (2005-11-01) 1 November 2005 15 2 Halifax Tides
16 4FW Jacqui Hand (1999-02-19) 19 February 1999 34 9 Sheffield United
31 4FW Ruby Nathan (2005-10-11) 11 October 2005 5 1 Canberra United
34 4FW Kelli Brown (2001-02-21) 21 February 2001 4 0 Perth Glory
38 4FW Deven Jackson (1998-04-22) 22 April 1998 2 0 Newcastle Jets

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the squad within the past 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Claudia Jenkins INJ (1998-06-20) 20 June 1998 0 0 Adelaide United v.  Venezuela, 3 June 2025
GK Geo Candy (2001-04-29) 29 April 2001 0 0 Melbourne Victory v.  Costa Rica, 25 February 2025
GK Anna Leat (2001-06-26) 26 June 2001 22 0 Unattached 2024 Summer Olympics
GK Murphy Sheaff ALT (2003-09-12) 12 September 2003 0 0 Jacksonville Dolphins 2024 Summer Olympics
DF Mackenzie Barry (2001-04-11) 11 April 2001 20 1 Wellington Phoenix v.  Costa Rica, 25 February 2025
DF Ali Riley INJ (1987-10-30) 30 October 1987 163 2 Angel City 2024 Summer Olympics
DF Katie Bowen (1994-04-15) 15 April 1994 113 4 Inter Milan 2024 Summer Olympics
DF CJ Bott (1995-04-22) 22 April 1995 50 3 Leicester City 2024 Summer Olympics
MF Jana Radosavljević (1996-11-04) 4 November 1996 3 0 C.S. Marítimo v.  Taiwan, 8 April 2025
MF Macey Fraser (2002-07-11) 11 July 2002 8 2 Utah Royals v.  Costa Rica, 25 February 2025
MF Malia Steinmetz (1999-01-18) 18 January 1999 35 0 Nordsjælland 2024 Summer Olympics
MF Daisy Cleverley (1997-04-30) 30 April 1997 39 2 HB Køge v.  Japan, 3 June 2024
FW Indiah-Paige Riley (2001-12-20) 20 December 2001 29 7 Crystal Palace v.  Taiwan, 8 April 2025
FW Hannah Blake (2000-05-05) 5 May 2000 7 0 Adelaide United v.  Taiwan, 8 April 2025
FW Gabi Rennie (2001-07-07) 7 July 2001 40 2 Åland United 2024 Summer Olympics
FW Hannah Wilkinson RET (1992-05-28) 28 May 1992 125 32 Melbourne City v.  Japan, 3 June 2024
FW Paige Satchell (1998-04-13) 13 April 1998 49 2 London City Lionesses v.  Thailand, 9 April 2024
Notes
  • ALT = Alternate
  • INJ = Withdrew due to injury
  • PRE = Preliminary squad / standby
  • RET = Retired from the national team

Captains

[40]

†Current New Zealand co-captain

Records

Main article: List of New Zealand women's international footballers

Bold players are still active.

Statistics as of 19 February 2024.[40]

Most capped players

# 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 2006–2025 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

# 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 2006–2025 15 133
Ria Percival 2006– 15 166

Honours

Major competitions

Champions (6): 1983, 1991, 2007, 2010, 2014, 2018
Runners-up (4): 1989, 1994, 1998, 2003
Champions: 1975
Runners-up (1): 1993

Competitive record

FIFA Women's World Cup

Main article: New Zealand at the FIFA Women's World Cup
New Zealand's FIFA Women's World Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Pos Pld W D* L GF GA Squad Outcome Pld W D L GF GA
1991 Group stage 11th 3 0 0 3 1 11 Squad Via OFC Women's Nations Cup
1995 Did not qualify
1999
2003
2007 Group stage 14th 3 0 0 3 0 9 Squad
2011 12th 3 0 1 2 4 6 Squad
2015 19th 3 0 2 1 2 3 Squad
2019 20th 3 0 0 3 1 5 Squad
2023 20th 3 1 1 1 1 1 Squad Qualified as co-hosts
2027 To be determined To be determined
2031
2035
Total Group stage 6/9 18 1 4 13 9 35 32 28 0 4 252 9

Olympic Games

Main article: Football at the Summer Olympics
Further information: OFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
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 Group stage 10th 3 0 0 3 2 6 −4 Squad
Total Quarter-finals 5/8 16 2 1 13 10 33 −23

OFC Women's Nations Cup

OFC Women's Nations Cup record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
1983 Champions 1st 4 3 1 0 24 3
1986 Third place 3rd 4 2 0 2 3 3
1989 Runners-up 2nd 5 4 0 1 10 1
1991 Champions 1st 4 3 0 1 28 1
1994 Runners-up 2nd 4 3 0 1 10 2
1998 Runners-up 2nd 4 3 0 1 41 3
2003 Runners-up 2nd 4 3 0 1 29 2
2007 Champions 1st 3 3 0 0 21 1
2010 Champions 1st 5 5 0 0 50 0
2014 Champions 1st 3 3 0 0 30 0
2018 Champions 1st 5 5 0 0 43 0
2022 Did not enter
2025
Total 6 titles 11/13 45 37 1 7 289 16

AFC Women's Asian Cup

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

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".[41]

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 2/28 7 1 3 3 4 8 −4

SheBelieves Cup

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
2022 4th 3 0 1 2 0 6 −6
Total 1/10 3 0 1 2 0 6 −6

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Soccer women step out with new name – Football Ferns". Stuff. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  2. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  3. ^ "1975 ASIAN CUP". New Zealand Football on NZfootball.co.nz. Archived from the original on 2 September 2007. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
  4. ^ Diamond, Drew (12 November 2023). "World Cup legacy continues to take effect in Aotearoa-New Zealand". Her Football Hub. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  5. ^ "1975". RSSSF. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  6. ^ Gastelum, Andrew (20 July 2023). "New Zealand Records First World Cup Win With Upset Over Norway". Sports Illustrated.
  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. ^ "New Zealand - New Zealand - Results and fixtures - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
  11. ^ "New Zealand [Women] - Historical results". worldfootball.net. 1 September 2023.
  12. ^ "Match report – Canada v New Zealand" (PDF). Olympics.com. International Olympic Committee. 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Behind-closed-doors match called off between Ferns and Chinese Taipei". friendsoffootballnz.com. 5 April 2025. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
  14. ^ "'Safety concerns' force cancellation of Ferns international against Chinese Tapei". friendsoffootballnz.com. 6 April 2025. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
  15. ^ "Coaching Records". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ "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.
  18. ^ 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 %.
  19. ^ Riddle, Charles (18 August 2017). "Obituary: Waikato women's football pioneer ahead of his time". Stuff.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ Maddaford, Terry. "Soccer: Fallon and the Rufers tipped as coaches for Kings". The New Zealand Herald.
  23. ^ Eriksen, Alanah (6 May 2009). "Ex-All White upset by murder story". The New Zealand Herald.
  24. ^ "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
  25. ^ Maddaford, Terry (26 April 2005). "Soccer: New coach draws side from far and wide". The New Zealand Herald.
  26. ^ 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.
  27. ^ Brown, Michael (9 December 2006). "Soccer: Allan Jones' last crusade". The New Zealand Herald.
  28. ^ Maddaford, Terry (1 March 2007). "Soccer: Women's coach quits". The New Zealand Herald.
  29. ^ Runae\f's, Jeremy. "Herdman Embraces "A Massive Responsibility"".
  30. ^ "Herdman finishing as Football Ferns coach". Stuff. 2 September 2011.
  31. ^ "New Football Ferns coach appointed". Radio New Zealand. 14 September 2011.
  32. ^ Voerman, Andrew (2 November 2017). "Departing Football Ferns coach Tony Readings says time right for him to go". Stuff.
  33. ^ "Heraf named as new Ferns Coach". New Zealand Football. 20 December 2017.
  34. ^ "New Zealand women's football coach resigns amid alleged 'toxic culture'". The Guardian. 31 July 2018.
  35. ^ "Sermanni named as Ferns Head Coach". New Zealand Football. 26 October 2018.
  36. ^ "Football Ferns coach Tom Sermanni steps down". 1116 SEN. 10 June 2021.
  37. ^ "'Tension not a bad thing': Klimkova's Football Ferns exit sign of growth". 1News. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  38. ^ "Five Changes in Ford Football Ferns Squad Named for Two-Match Series Against Venezuela". New Zealand Football. 14 May 2025.
  39. ^ New Zealand Team
  40. ^ a b "Roll of Honour". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Archived from the original on 22 July 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  41. ^ "Women's game thriving in the Algarve". FIFA. 9 March 2011. Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
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