Football Ferns

I think for sure NZ still being in OFC is a bigger loss for the Ferns than the AWs.
The Ferns would likely be ranked in the top 6-8 AFC nations, and playing in the Womens Asian Cup would be quite cool.

Aussie host it next year, so hopefully a few teams agree to friendlies in NZ pre tourney starting. Pity the Ferns can't be a 'guest team' like CONMEBOL sometimes invites in guest nations for the Copa America.

The OFC Womens Nations Cup is about to kick off, and NZF haven't even bothered to enter the Ferns, the comp being of minimal value.

If the Ferns were in AFC they highly likely wouldn't be good enough to qualify for the 12 team Olympics anymore (where they nearly always lose, and look out classed). But they should still be good enough to make the WWC regularly (about to expand also to 48 teams). Plus yes have the Womens Asian Cup tourney.

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/how-to-watch-ofc-womens-nations-cup-2025/

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/06/30/professional-player-representatives-hold-general-assembly-in-tokyo/

FIFPRO Asia/Oceania and the Japan Pro-Footballers Association (JPFA) co-hosted their 2025 general assembly in Tokyo, bringing together representatives from FIFPRO Asia/Oceania’s 12 member unions, observers, Japanese football stakeholders, and FIFPRO’s secretary general, Alex Phillips.

The New Zealand Professional Footballers Association (NZPFA) were represented by FIFPRO Oceania vice president Anna Green.

FIFPRO Asia/Oceania outlined a four-point plan for the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, aimed at professionalising women’s football in the region.

The vision aims to deliver equal conditions for all future men’s and women’s AFC Asian Cups, including equality of conditions, equal prize money, a guaranteed player share of prize money, and a co-designed tournament legacy between the players and the AFC.

The WNC final is 7pm NZT on Saturday 19th - it’d be cool if the Feathers could screen it live for all the thirsty Phoenix fans coming out from the Wrexham game. Not sure how that works for stuff on FIFA+ though.

Simon B

The WNC final is 7pm NZT on Saturday 19th - it’d be cool if the Feathers could screen it live for all the thirsty Phoenix fans coming out from the Wrexham game. Not sure how that works for stuff on FIFA+ though.

Football Ferns chose to not participate in this year's OFC Nations Cup, same as the 2022 edition

Half a Pint

Simon B

The WNC final is 7pm NZT on Saturday 19th - it’d be cool if the Feathers could screen it live for all the thirsty Phoenix fans coming out from the Wrexham game. Not sure how that works for stuff on FIFA+ though.

Football Ferns chose to not participate in this year's OFC Nations Cup, same as the 2022 edition

Yeah I know, I just saw the “how to watch” link posted earlier and thought the timing was ideal for post-Wrexham entertainment - back on topic, I wonder if at least the WNC winner is worth a future friendly with us?

PNG? They look the one womens team in OFC capable of potentially closing the huge gap on the Ferns.

Only lost 2-0 to Panama in 2023 WWC Qualification Intercontinental Play-offs. Hekari United from Port Moresby pushing Auckland United really hard at the OFC Champions League.

coochiee

PNG? They look the one womens team in OFC capable of potentially closing the huge gap on the Ferns.

Only lost 2-0 to Panama in 2023 WWC Qualification Intercontinental Play-offs. Hekari United from Port Moresby pushing Auckland United really hard at the OFC Champions League.

Sure they're probably the best on paper but it still is a massive gap.

Olympics quals they drew with the Solomon Islands in the group stage and lost to Fiji. We beat Fiji 7-1 and Solomons 11-0 in that tournament.

I looked up the nickname of the Norwegian women's team this morning after they beat Switzerland in their Euro 2025 game, and was disappointed to find it's not the Valkyries (imagine your team walking out onto the pitch to a bit of the ol' Wagner).

But while I was looking I came across this page which claims our very own Annalie Longo came up with the Football Ferns name in 2006. This claim pops up elsewhere, but it's not mentioned in the NZF history of the Ferns and Stuff claims it was the result of a public competition.

It would make me happy if a young Flea deserves credit for the name, but can anyone point at a definitive source for or against?

Simon B

I looked up the nickname of the Norwegian women's team this morning after they beat Switzerland in their Euro 2025 game, and was disappointed to find it's not the Valkyries (imagine your team walking out onto the pitch to a bit of the ol' Wagner).

But while I was looking I came across this page which claims our very own Annalie Longo came up with the Football Ferns name in 2006. This claim pops up elsewhere, but it's not mentioned in the NZF history of the Ferns and Stuff claims it was the result of a public competition.

It would make me happy if a young Flea deserves credit for the name, but can anyone point at a definitive source for or against?

September 2007 public competition outcome announced, as send-off to the squad for 2007 World Cup
https://web.archive.org/web/20080723130653/https://www.nzsoccer.com/plugins/newsfeed.cgi?rm=content&plugin_data_id=20592
"The Football Ferns moniker – chosen after a public competition ¬– was unveiled along with a new-look Nike strip at a farewell function for the side in Auckland today."

I guess that doesn't rule out Flea being the first to nominate the moniker.

The Matildas have played six friendlies the last 5-6 weeks in Australia.

vs Argentina won 2-0
vs Argentina won 4-1
vs Slovenia won 3-0
vs Slovenia drew 1-1
vs Panama lost 0-1
vs Panama won 3-2

FIFA rankings Australia (15th), Argentina (32nd), Slovenia (38th) & Panama (56th).

I'm sure the Matildas rotated different players through these 6 games, and they have a brand new coach. But I can't remember the last time the Ferns (ranked 33rd) drew or beat the Aussies. It took a 97th min winner to beat the Panamians 3-2 in the most recent match.

Just highlights again how with emerging nations like Slovenia and Panama, it's going to be ever more difficult for the Ferns to stay in the top 30-40 teams.
https://inside.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/women 

coochiee

The Matildas have played six friendlies the last 5-6 weeks in Australia.

vs Argentina won 2-0
vs Argentina won 4-1
vs Slovenia won 3-0
vs Slovenia drew 1-1
vs Panama lost 0-1
vs Panama won 3-2

FIFA rankings Australia (15th), Argentina (32nd), Slovenia (38th) & Panama (56th).

I'm sure the Matildas rotated different players through these 6 games, and they have a brand new coach. But I can't remember the last time the Ferns (ranked 33rd) drew or beat the Aussies. It took a 97th min winner to beat the Panamians 3-2 in the most recent match.

Just highlights again how with emerging nations like Slovenia and Panama, it's going to be ever more difficult for the Ferns to stay in the top 30-40 teams.
https://inside.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/women 

Yeh. Aussie with there new coach were heavily rotated. Multiple international debuts.  Just a shadow first team against Panama.
Panama played well though. From what I saw they would beat our football ferns

Qualifying schedule for the 2027 Women's World Cup. The Ferns will be playing in Group B in the Solomon Islands, then the knockout rounds in Auckland. Personally won't be going to any as once again the rest of the country gets sidelined.

Puts an end to the run of playing teams around the Ferns level. 

Damage limitation exercise. And sadly at the moment even promising talents Clegg and Fraser are not doing much at all. 

https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/156758?newsfeedId=2064762

The Ferns come into the October international window in good form after two wins, a draw, and a loss so far in 2025 under new head coach Michael Mayne.

“Our strategy in the first half of 2025 was to use the initial international windows to really work on our playing style, and it has been great to see the players buy into that with some good success on the pitch,” says Ford Football Ferns head coach Michael Mayne.

“We now need to challenge ourselves against some really top sides to see how we are processing, and the USA are the ultimate test for that.

“Knowing we start our FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying journey in early 2026, we want to use the rest of this year to make sure we are in the best place not just to qualify for, but perform at, the tournament.

“We have made progress, but we know there is still work to do to ensure we achieve our goal of getting out of our group in Brazil in 2027.”

The Ford Football Ferns will be playing in both the October and November 2025 FIFA match windows, before starting FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 qualifying in February 2026.  

I don't think we should be playing football in any country where they might deport you/put you in a camp for a few weeks if you have something on your social media which their government disapprove of. Do places like Russia or the DPRK even do that?

Would assume players aren't consulted when games are being booked.  Wonder if anyone will make themselves unavailable for this match. 

Trumpy & the USWNT have never been friends. 

If any of the Ferns would want to make some sort of statement, they would probably find some of the American team would join them. That would garner more attention, than simply not going.

Oh and North Korea or Russia don't put you in camp for a few weeks re any socials they don't like. Nothing that soft. No it's years (hard labour). And of course if you are really naughty you get poisoned by the KGB, or tied to a pole for artillery practice in the Democratic Peoples Republic.

Not that there is any social media for North Koreans. No you are more likely to be done in by your own brain washed school kids reporting you to the authorities, for a loose word or two about Kim.

Forget the politics, why are we playing against the US? Our games against them have been 6-1, 5-0, 4-0 and 5-0 which have only served to humiliate us. We need to play against good teams in the top 20 but they always thrash us so I don't see what we will gain from it

coochiee

Trumpy & the USWNT have never been friends. 

If any of the Ferns would want to make some sort of statement, they would probably find some of the American team would join them. That would garner more attention, than simply not going.

Oh and North Korea or Russia don't put you in camp for a few weeks re any socials they don't like. Nothing that soft. No it's years (hard labour). And of course if you are really naughty you get poisoned by the KGB, or tied to a pole for artillery practice in the Democratic Peoples Republic.

Not that there is any social media for North Koreans. No you are more likely to be done in by your own brain washed school kids reporting you to the authorities, for a loose word or two about Kim.

The question was, specifically, whether the Putin or Kim regime would fudge over visiting guests like the Trump regime does. I don't think anyone who went to the Sochi Olympics disappeared into one of those Siberian prisons

True back then Putin seemed less hardline than now. Same Term 1 Trump.

Thankfully there never will be a major sporting event in DPRK

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/us-student-otto-warmbier-dies-after-returning-from-north-korea/news-story/826fbb9e1824638d26140d739617e2ba

https://abcnews.go.com/International/russian-court-sentences-american-ksenia-karelina-former-ballerina/story?id=112853611

LT01

Forget the politics, why are we playing against the US? Our games against them have been 6-1, 5-0, 4-0 and 5-0 which have only served to humiliate us. We need to play against good teams in the top 20 but they always thrash us so I don't see what we will gain from it

things we will get out of it;
1) Frequent Flyer Miles
2) Christmas shopping gifts
3) A chance to be signed, and then not played by, an American club
4) Instagram profile updates
5) The chance to say "we're in a transition period"

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/08/25/special-feature-meet-carol-waller-new-zealands-first-female-goalkeeper/

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/08/25/originals-celebrate-50th-anniversary-of-first-ever-womens-national-team/

Football Ferns confirm games with Mexico ahead of USA match

The Football Ferns will take on Mexico before their clash with Olympic champions the USA next month.

The game against the USA in Kansas City was confirmed last month.

New Zealand Football has now managed to get two games [against] Mexico who are ranked 29th, four places higher than New Zealand.

[...]

Football Ferns October schedule:

Well done NZF. Ferns will be underdogs for all 3 games, but far better chance of a result against the Mexicans.

Good thing the Nix start the new ALW season against BYE FC (Oct 31st-Nov 2nd). 
First game not until 8th Nov verus Canberra United.

Barry, Jale, Fraser, Bott, Esson and Main could all be away with the Ferns in North America not getting back home until about 1st Nov. Hopefully Mayne helps Preistman out by the rotating his whole squad through the 3 internationals in 6 days.

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/09/18/michael-mayne-interview/

Expect a couple of matches much, much closer to home (but not at home) to close out 2025 after this North American triple-header in October https://t.co/VpgWGbfPdh

— Andrew Voerman (@andrewvoerman) September 18, 2025

Andrew Voerman hinting at matches for the Football Ferns in Australia for the final Women's International Window for 2025 (24 Nov - 2 Dec)

What about actually having them play at home? It's been nearly a year and a half, and massive one-sided qualifying wins early next year won't cut it for genuine home games.

LT01

What about actually having them play at home? It's been nearly a year and a half, and massive one-sided qualifying wins early next year won't cut it for genuine home games.

There was a 12 month period around the 2023 WC when everyone wanted to come to NZ, including the high profile Americans. But that's long over.

It's the same with the AWs, it's just bloody hard to attract teams long distance to NZ for friendlies.

Almost all the Matildas games in Australia are underwritten by the various state Govts. The well heeled WA Govt (massive iron ore royalties) paid for the Matildas to play 4 games in Perth and Bunbury earlier this year.

The Wellington City Council got a spare $400K to help assemble the Ferns and say the Canadian womens team in Aotearoa for a couple of matches?

LT01

What about actually having them play at home? It's been nearly a year and a half, and massive one-sided qualifying wins early next year won't cut it for genuine home games.

NZ Football had home matches against a South American opponent agreed for early June and the other team bailed on them late and they had to scramble to play Venezuela on neutral territory in Spain as a result. It's frustrating, but women's football is also trickier than men's football in this regard (and men's football is tricky enough). That FA has twice in the last three years split men's matches either side of the Tasman but would be committing economic self-harm by splitting women's matches is a case in point. NZ Football would have loved to have been able to piggyback on the Asian Cup in February but that is when OFC has decided to run qualifying, alas. Not excusing them but it is not as simple as some of the fist-shaking makes out.

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Home and away maybe??

LT01

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Home and away maybe??

As the person who first reported this, it's two matches in Australia. It just does not stack up economically to do a home and away in women's international football with Australia. They would go find someone else willing to play two matches in Australia instead.

Good news for our int. ALW players. Not having to travel round the world mid season for a window.

andrewvoerman

LT01

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Home and away maybe??

As the person who first reported this, it's two matches in Australia. It just does not stack up economically to do a home and away in women's international football with Australia. They would go find someone else willing to play two matches in Australia instead.

And it doesn't stack up for NZF to not have anything home games for 18 months if they want the team to actually have any kind of mainstream support.

Be interesting to hopefully hear next year what qualification payouts FIFA will make re WWC 2027 qualification.

The AWs earnt a rumoured $10USD million by beating New Caledonia.

If the Ferns earn a similar amount next year when they breeze through their OFC qualifying tourney, then NZF can surely afford to spend up on some quality home games for the Ferns.

LT01

andrewvoerman

LT01

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Home and away maybe??

As the person who first reported this, it's two matches in Australia. It just does not stack up economically to do a home and away in women's international football with Australia. They would go find someone else willing to play two matches in Australia instead.

And it doesn't stack up for NZF to not have anything home games for 18 months if they want the team to actually have any kind of mainstream support.

It doesn't, but they had two lined up for June that fell through when the opposition pulled out. Trying to peel one of these off from Football Australia to compensate would have been the non-est of non-starters.

 

 

Pretty close to full strength. No Fraser, Stott, Steinmetz, Hassett or Leat.
Likely best Leat concentrates on her new gig at Newcastle Jets.

Only 2 keepers? Guess they can call up Murphy Sheaff from her US College at short notice in need.

Tough schedule of 3 internationals in 6 days plus travel.

4 Nix players. So helps that the Nix play Bye FC round one of the ALW season.

https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/158509?newsfeedId=2064762

The Ford Football Ferns squad to play two games against Mexico (FIFA rank 29) and one against Olympic champions the USA (FIFA rank 2) this month has been confirmed.

Twenty-four players have been named for the tour, with five changes from the side selected for the previous international window which saw the team record a win and a loss against Venezuela.

Joining the squad are Durham FC’s Hannah Blake, Wellington Phoenix’s CJ Bott, Inter Milan’s Katie Bowen, Eskilstuna United DFF’s Gabi Rennie, and Crystal Palace’s Indiah-Paige Riley, as head coach Michael Mayne continues to build competition and depth within the playing group.

The full 24-player squad is:

Liz Anton (22 caps/0 goals) Kolbotn IL, Norway
Mackenzie Barry (20/1) Wellington Phoenix FC, New Zealand
Hannah Blake (7/0) Durham FC, England
CJ Bott (50/3) Wellington Phoenix FC, New Zealand
Katie Bowen (113/4) Inter Milan, Italy
Kelli Brown (4/0) Newcastle Jets, Australia
Claudia Bunge (35/0) Melbourne Victory, Australia
Milly Clegg (15/2) Halifax Tides FC, Canada
Manaia Elliott (3/0) Wellington Phoenix FC, New Zealand
Victoria Esson (28/0) Wellington Phoenix FC, New Zealand
Michaela Foster (25/1) Durham FC, England
Maya Hahn (4/1) FC Viktoria Berlin, Germany
Jacqui Hand (35/9) Kolbotn IL, Norway
Deven Jackson (2/0) Melbourne City, Australia
Katie Kitching (18/6) Sunderland AFC, England
Annalie Longo (140/15) Auckland United, New Zealand
Meikayla Moore (71/4) Calgary Wild FC, Canada
Grace Neville (13/0) Ipswich Town, England
Emma Pijnenburg (3/0) Feyenoord Rotterdam, Netherlands
Gabi Rennie (40/2) Eskilstuna United DFF, Sweden
Indiah-Paige Riley (29/3) Crystal Palace, England
Alina Santos (0/0) University of Denver, USA
Kate Taylor (25/2) Dijon FCO, France
Grace Wisnewski (3/0) FC Nordsjælland, Denmark

“These are three challenging and exciting games, and we’ve selected a strong squad to continue building on what we’ve started this year,” says head coach Michael Mayne.

“As we prepare for FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying in 2026, we always wanted to use the first half of the year to give opportunities to a wide range of players and to implement our new ways of working on and off the pitch.

“These games give us the chance to further develop that work, while also providing opportunities for other players to ensure we’re in the best possible position to perform when qualifying comes around.

“This window will be challenging and will put our work this year to the test to see what we’ve built so far, where the next opportunities lie, and where some of the gaps remain.

“It’s been a valuable period since the last international games, connecting with the wider squad about what we have coming up. There was real excitement from all of the players to be involved, and for those selected, I know they’re really looking forward to the opportunity to test ourselves in Mexico and the USA.”

The Ford Football Ferns’ first match against Mexico will be played on Friday 24 October at 3pm NZT (Thursday 23 October at 8pm local time) at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes in Mexico City.

Three days later, the two sides will meet again on Monday 27 October at 12pm NZT (Sunday 26 October at 5pm local time) at Estadio Olímpico Benito Juárez in Ciudad Juárez.

The Ford Football Ferns will then travel to Missouri to take on the USA on Thursday 30 October at 1pm NZT (Wednesday 29 October at 7pm local time) at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City.

All three games will be live and free in Aotearoa New Zealand on FIFA+.

No Macey Fraser Yet.
I guess that are waiting till she gets some game time in her.
Same for Anna Leat I guess