EXCLUSIVE from the NZ Herald Premium; Bonnie Jansen reports on how the U17s getting pumped is all down to Jitka Klimkova, with quotes from her bessie Daisy. Only in the Herald, subscribe today!
EXCLUSIVE from the NZ Herald Premium; Bonnie Jansen reports on how the U17s getting pumped is all down to Jitka Klimkova, with quotes from her bessie Daisy. Only in the Herald, subscribe today!
Or the alternative that actually our players ain't that good.
The next game against hosts Dominican Republic should be far more winnable.
They are only at the WC because they are hosts, pretty sure they have never qualified for a U17 WWC before, and I see back in 2022 the last time they were at the CONCACAF U17 qualifiers they got pummeled 10-0 by Mexico. That is 2 years ago so a different age cohort now, but for what it's worth NZ did draw 0-0 with Mexico a few days ago in a pre tourney warmup.
The 4th team in the pool Ecuador, currently lead Dominican Republic 2-0 in the first half.
Nigeria were 3rd at the last U17 WWC in 2022. They are highly likely the toughest team in this group. It might all come down the the 3rd game against Ecudaor re NZ progressing.
At least we managed to avoid the Group with Spain, Colombia, USA & Sth Korea! A proper Group of Death. At the last edition Spain won it (and the time before that in 2018), Colombia were the beaten finalists, and of course the USA are always strong in the womens game.
EXCLUSIVE from the NZ Herald Premium; Bonnie Jansen reports on how the U17s getting pumped is all down to Jitka Klimkova, with quotes from her bessie Daisy. Only in the Herald, subscribe today!
Or the alternative that actually our players ain't that good.
The next game against hosts Dominican Republic should be far more winnable.
They are only at the WC because they are hosts, pretty sure they have never qualified for a U17 WWC before, and I see back in 2022 the last time they were at the CONCACAF U17 qualifiers they got pummeled 10-0 by Mexico. That is 2 years ago so a different age cohort now, but for what it's worth NZ did draw 0-0 with Mexico a few days ago in a pre tourney warmup.
The 4th team in the pool Ecuador, currently lead Dominican Republic 2-0 in the first half.
Nigeria were 3rd at the last U17 WWC in 2022. They are highly likely the toughest team in this group. It might all come down the the 3rd game against Ecudaor re NZ progressing.
At least we managed to avoid the Group with Spain, Colombia, USA & Sth Korea! A proper Group of Death. At the last edition Spain won it (and the time before that in 2018), Colombia were the beaten finalists, and of course the USA are always strong in the womens game.
Yep this is Dominican Republic's first appearance at an U17 WWC, it's also Ecuador's as well.
I always thought Ela Jerez's las tname was pronounced with an H, but the commentator this morning was saying it with a J - was he incorrect or is it me thats wrong?
EXCLUSIVE from the NZ Herald Premium; Bonnie Jansen reports on how the U17s getting pumped is all down to Jitka Klimkova, with quotes from her bessie Daisy. Only in the Herald, subscribe today!
Or the alternative that actually our players ain't that good.
The next game against hosts Dominican Republic should be far more winnable.
They are only at the WC because they are hosts, pretty sure they have never qualified for a U17 WWC before, and I see back in 2022 the last time they were at the CONCACAF U17 qualifiers they got pummeled 10-0 by Mexico. That is 2 years ago so a different age cohort now, but for what it's worth NZ did draw 0-0 with Mexico a few days ago in a pre tourney warmup.
The 4th team in the pool Ecuador, currently lead Dominican Republic 2-0 in the first half.
Nigeria were 3rd at the last U17 WWC in 2022. They are highly likely the toughest team in this group. It might all come down the the 3rd game against Ecudaor re NZ progressing.
At least we managed to avoid the Group with Spain, Colombia, USA & Sth Korea! A proper Group of Death. At the last edition Spain won it (and the time before that in 2018), Colombia were the beaten finalists, and of course the USA are always strong in the womens game.
Yep this is Dominican Republic's first appearance at an U17 WWC, it's also Ecuador's as well.
I always thought Ela Jerez's las tname was pronounced with an H, but the commentator this morning was saying it with a J - was he incorrect or is it me thats wrong?
In Spanish, its not really H or J. Who knows how she herself pronounces it, which is what matters I would have thought.
Its a good game so far, we should probably have manufactured a goal but we havent managed to find a good final pass yet. We have the speed on the wings to win this. Number 10 looks handy
The 2 keepers each gift an air flap at a corner to make it a 1-1 draw. Jerez also banged one off the cross bar for NZ (1 pt). Coach Gunn changed the keeper from the first Nigeria match.
Everything on the Ecuador (3 pts) game. Only the top 2 teams from the 4 pools go through, so NZ must win to edge Ecuador for the quarters.
Do any of these girls actually watch football?? Like are actually up on a Sunday morning watching the EPL, can't beleave how tactical bad we were up front. How kids these days are unable to play with both feet at this level is beyond me, technically sloopy. 1st touch 2nd tackle type stuff. Toe poking with weakes foot when under pressure. It's a hard watch. Def 2 points lost in the game after dominating 1st half.
Jerez is good, plays off both feet, but plays a different game to her team mates. Clearly a step above. Her shot that hit the cross bar was on her weaker foot for example.
I can't understand why the coach took her off in a must win game??
Our RB was horrible in the last 20 minutes. No composure, terrible passing and option taking.
Didn't see the game, but gee disappointing we couldn't win this one, not often we get such a good chance to do so in these tournaments, Dominican Republic yes are the hosts but a nation we should be well ahead of in women's football.
Seems Ecuador outplayed them so not sure what chance we have in the final game
Didn't see the game, but gee disappointing we couldn't win this one, not often we get such a good chance to do so in these tournaments, Dominican Republic yes are the hosts but a nation we should be well ahead of in women's football.
Seems Ecuador outplayed them so not sure what chance we have in the final game
Once Vlok and Jerez were off, I couldn't see us scoring. We played ok generally for most of it,but we we were lacking at the pointy end where it counts.
Another looping header goes in from 15 yards out!... wait its been disallowed.
why is Neary (aka ankle weights) back in goal for the 3rd game. I was happier with Sophie Campbell's performance in the 2nd game.
I actually think in the first game if Brooke Neary had actually taken one big step back in her positioning she would have just easily caught the ball vs goals being scored or knocking over the top for corners.
Another looping header goes in from 15 yards out!... wait its been disallowed.
why is Neary (aka ankle weights) back in goal for the 3rd game. I was happier with Sophie Campbell's performance in the 2nd game.
I actually think in the first game if Brooke Neary had actually taken one big step back in her positioning she would have just easily caught the ball vs goals being scored or knocking over the top for corners.
The Samoa U-17 women’s team is determined to be one of the best prepared side from Oceania to ever travel to a FIFA World Cup™.
Coach Juan Chang Urrea and his charges last year wrote themselves into the history books by becoming the first team from Samoa to qualify for a FIFA World Cup™, but they are not planning to just make up the numbers in Morocco in October later this year.
The coach and his players have just completed a six-day training camp in California to start an unparalleled build-up programme for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup™, that will include camps in the United States, New Zealand, Samoa and a trip to the Dallas Cup.
“This level of preparation is unheard of in the Pacific Islands,” says coach Urrea.
“We are trying to set the bar, we are trying to do things differently and we are working to make Samoa and the Oceania region proud at the World Cup.”
The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup™ has been expanded to 24 teams and Samoa has benefited from Oceania being allocated two slots, after finishing runners-up to New Zealand at last year’s OFC U-16 Women’s Championship in Fiji.
Fiji last year also benefited from the expanded finals format in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup™, but struggled against high-profile countries in their group matches, prompting Football Federation Samoa (FFS) to forge plans to give their young talents the best chance to succeed in Morocco.
“Everyone in the federation agreed that these camps are important for our girls. It was a great idea to put all our efforts behind the team, and everyone worked extremely hard to make this work,” says Urrea.
FIFA’s Chief Women’s Football Officer Dame Sarai Bareman – a former Samoan international – has been particularly interested in the team’s progress.
Never easy to know at this age level who will be good and who will be beatable.
But Japan are always one of the world's very best, so that just might be damage limitation. I think the African teams have also comfortably been too good for us of late. A win over Paraguay, and then progress as one of the better 3rd placed teams?
From memory the last few age group female tourneys (U20s & U17s), NZ have really struggled. Hopefully this event goes better. There is always the 3rd place in 2018 to draw inspiration from.
Our group for the U17 Women's World Cup taking place in Morocco later this year has been confirmed
Samoa got Canada, France, and Nigeria. Very tough.
But they may do better than expected if they can tap into that USA based diaspora. Plus I read Kiwi Samoan, Dame Sarai-Paea Bareman is using all her powers to get Samoa a really good pre tourney preparation program. She is very high up in FIFA after all.
Bareman involved at the draw. Very proud Samoan no doubt!
RABAT, MOROCCO – JUNE 04: Draw Conductors Jaime Yarza and Draw Conductor Sarai Bareman look on during the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Draw at The Auditorium of the Complex Mohammed VI de Football on June 04, 2025 in Rabat, Morocco. (Photo by Denis Doyle – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
I imagine Sacred Heart won’t be thrilled about the announcement getting its name wrong, but good on Sharkey and all the other squad members who were selected.
I imagine Sacred Heart won’t be thrilled about the announcement getting its name wrong, but good on Sharkey and all the other squad members who were selected.
A particular favourite is naming Botany Downs Secondary College as both Botany Secondary College and Botany Downs College.......you'd think they'd have an editor or someone to check this stuff...
I imagine Sacred Heart won’t be thrilled about the announcement getting its name wrong, but good on Sharkey and all the other squad members who were selected.
A particular favourite is naming Botany Downs Secondary College as both Botany Secondary College and Botany Downs College.......you'd think they'd have an editor or someone to check this stuff...
Hopefully checked the eligibility as well. I think one of the named players played for Samoa in last round of qualifying, so hopefully i's dotted and t's crossed on that.
The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) 2025 Under-16 Women's Championship scheduled to kick off in Apia on Friday will go ahead despite the current dengue fever outbreak in the country.
In a statement sent to RNZ Pacific, the OFC it was closely monitoring the situation.
"OFC is working in collaboration with Samoa Football and local health authorities to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all participants," it said.
"As a precaution, all competition venues have been fumigated, and OFC is providing mosquito repellent to players, team staff, and officials," the OFC said.
