Yes you are right re the womens game, there probably is more potential for the Polynesian countries Samoa and even Tonga, to sit in that 2nd tier, and qualify for age group (U20 & U17) WCs behind NZ.
I mean the female game in the US is strong so if Samoa and Tonga can undercover some talented young (Mormon?) girls playing in Utah or where ever, and getting good coaching, footballing resources etc Stateside, they could do well longer term. But their ceiling will always be limited by their tiny populations, and football being the 3rd code for them.
Oh and I note this from AV's article on the Samoan's mens team
Samoa are effectively on the next rung down. They typically have the edge over the three teams they regularly face in the preliminary stages of Oceania competitions, winning 23 of the 32 matches they have played against American Samoa, the Cook Islands and Tonga, but losing all 44 of the matches they have played against anyone else.
I mean the female game in the US is strong so if Samoa and Tonga can undercover some talented young (Mormon?) girls playing in Utah or where ever, and getting good coaching, footballing resources etc Stateside, they could do well longer term. But their ceiling will always be limited by their tiny populations, and football being the 3rd code for them.
Oh and I note this from AV's article on the Samoan's mens team
Samoa are effectively on the next rung down. They typically have the edge over the three teams they regularly face in the preliminary stages of Oceania competitions, winning 23 of the 32 matches they have played against American Samoa, the Cook Islands and Tonga, but losing all 44 of the matches they have played against anyone else.