New Zealand women's national football team

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Wikipedia

New Zealand
Shirt badge/Association crest
NicknameFootball 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 Steady (7 August 2025)[2]
Highest16 (December 2013, July 2015 – March 2016)
Lowest33 (June 2025)
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
Appearances5 (first in 2008)
Best resultQuarter-finals (2012)
OFC Nations Cup
Appearances11 (first in 1983)
Best resultChampions (1983, 1991, 2007, 2010, 2014, 2018)
Medal record
OFC Women's Nations Cup
Gold medal – first place1983 New Caledonia
Gold medal – first place1991 Australia
Gold medal – first place2007 Papua New Guinea
Gold medal – first place2010 New Zealand
Gold medal – first place2014 Papua New GuineaTeam
Gold medal – first place2018 New CaledoniaTeam
Silver medal – second place1989 Australia
Silver medal – second place1994 Papua New Guinea
Silver medal – second place1998 New Zealand
Silver medal – second place2003 Australia
AFC Women's Championship
Gold medal – first place1975 Hong Kong
CONCACAF W Championship
Silver medal – second place1993 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
2220211010 22Increase 022Decrease 0

Results and fixtures

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

2025

22 February Friendly Costa Rica  1–1  New Zealand 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  New Zealand Alajuela, Costa Rica
19:00 UTC−6 Report
Stadium: Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto
Referee: Merlin Soto (Honduras)
5 April Friendly Chinese Taipei  Cancelled  New Zealand Taiwan
Report Attendance: 0 (Behind closed doors)
Note: The match was called off due to issues with the pitch.[12]
8 April Friendly Chinese Taipei  Cancelled  New Zealand Kaohsiung, Taiwan
18:30 UTC+9 Source Stadium: Kaohsiung Nanzih Football Stadium
Note: The match was called off due to issues with the pitch.[13]
3 June Friendly New Zealand  2–1  Venezuela Algeciras, Spain
18:00 UTC+2
Report
Stadium: Estadio Nuevo Mirador
Referee: Seth Galia (Gibraltar)
23 October Friendly Mexico  1–0  New Zealand Mexico City, Mexico
20:00 UTC−6
Report Stadium: Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes
Referee: Astrid Gramajo (Guatemala)
28 November Friendly Australia  v  New Zealand Gosford, Australia
19:30 UTC+11 Source Stadium: polytec Stadium

2026

    Coaching staff

    Current coaching staff

    Position Name
    Technical director New Zealand Andrew Boyens
    Head coach New Zealand Michael Mayne
    Assistant coach New Zealand Jenny Bindon
    Assistant coach New Zealand Callum Holmes
    Assistant coach England Nikita Runnacles
    Goalkeeping coach Gibraltar Will Britt
    Performance Analyst New Zealand Alice Noyer
    Sports Scientist New Zealand Reilly O'Meagher

    Manager history

    [14]

    Players

    Current squad


    The following players were called up for three international friendly matches against Mexico and the United States on 23, 26 and 29 October 2025. [37][38][39]

    Caps and goals correct as of 3 June 2025, after the match against Venezuela. [40]
    No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
    1GK Victoria Esson (1991-03-06) 6 March 1991 (age 34) 28 0 New Zealand Football Wellington Phoenix
    1GK Alina Santos (2003-08-25) 25 August 2003 (age 22) 0 0 United States Soccer Federation University of Denver
    2DF Katie Bowen (1994-04-15) 15 April 1994 (age 31) 113 4 Italian Football Federation Inter Milan
    2DF Meikayla Moore (1996-06-04) 4 June 1996 (age 29) 71 4 Canadian Soccer Association Calgary Wild
    2DF Claudia Bunge (1999-09-21) 21 September 1999 (age 26) 35 0 Football Australia Melbourne Victory
    2DF Kate Taylor (2003-10-21) 21 October 2003 (age 22) 25 2 French Football Federation Dijon
    2DF Michaela Foster (1999-01-09) 9 January 1999 (age 26) 25 1 The Football Association Durham WFC
    2DF Elizabeth Anton (1998-12-12) 12 December 1998 (age 26) 23 0 Norwegian Football Federation Kolbotn
    2DF Mackenzie Barry (2001-04-11) 11 April 2001 (age 24) 20 1 New Zealand Football Wellington Phoenix
    2DF Grace Neville (2000-04-09) 9 April 2000 (age 25) 13 0 The Football Association Ipswich Town
    2DF Manaia Elliott (2005-04-21) 21 April 2005 (age 20) 3 0 New Zealand Football Wellington Phoenix
    2DF Rebecca Lake (1999-05-13) 13 May 1999 (age 26) 0 0 Canadian Soccer Association Vancouver Rise
    2DF Lara Wall (2000-05-31) 31 May 2000 (age 25) 0 0 New Zealand Football Wellington Phoenix
    3MF Annalie Longo (captain) (1991-07-01) 1 July 1991 (age 34) 140 15 New Zealand Football Auckland United
    3MF Katie Kitching (1998-11-30) 30 November 1998 (age 26) 18 6 The Football Association Sunderland
    3MF Maya Hahn (2001-02-07) 7 February 2001 (age 24) 4 1 German Football Association Viktoria Berlin
    3MF Emma Pijnenburg (2004-09-13) 13 September 2004 (age 21) 3 0 Royal Dutch Football Association Feyenoord
    4FW Gabi Rennie (2001-07-07) 7 July 2001 (age 24) 40 2 Swedish Football Association Eskilstuna United
    4FW Jacqui Hand (1999-02-19) 19 February 1999 (age 26) 34 9 Norwegian Football Federation Kolbotn
    4FW Indiah-Paige Riley (2001-12-20) 20 December 2001 (age 23) 29 7 The Football Association Crystal Palace
    4FW Milly Clegg (2005-11-01) 1 November 2005 (age 19) 15 2 Canadian Soccer Association Halifax Tides
    4FW Hannah Blake (2000-05-05) 5 May 2000 (age 25) 7 0 The Football Association Durham
    4FW Kelli Brown (2001-02-21) 21 February 2001 (age 24) 4 0 Football Australia Newcastle Jets
    4FW Deven Jackson (1998-04-22) 22 April 1998 (age 27) 2 0 Football Australia Melbourne City

    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 Brianna Edwards (2003-01-27) 27 January 2003 (age 22) 1 0 Australia Western Sydney Wanderers v.  Venezuela, 3 June 2025
    GK Claudia Jenkins (1998-06-20) 20 June 1998 (age 27) 0 0 Australia Adelaide United v.  Venezuela, 31 May 2025
    GK Geo Candy (2001-04-29) 29 April 2001 (age 24) 0 0 Unattached v.  Costa Rica, 25 February 2025
    DF CJ Bott INJ (1995-04-22) 22 April 1995 (age 30) 50 3 New Zealand Wellington Phoenix v.  Mexico, 23 October 2025
    DF Rebekah Stott (1993-06-17) 17 June 1993 (age 32) 108 4 Australia Melbourne City v.  Venezuela, 3 June 2025
    DF Ally Green (1998-08-17) 17 August 1998 (age 27) 18 2 Canada Calgary Wild v.  Venezuela, 3 June 2025
    MF Grace Wisnewski INJ (2002-06-28) 28 June 2002 (age 23) 3 0 Denmark FC Nordsjælland v.  Mexico, 23 October 2025
    MF Betsy Hassett (1990-08-04) 4 August 1990 (age 35) 159 16 Iceland Stjarnan v.  Venezuela, 3 June 2025
    MF Jana Radosavljević (1996-11-04) 4 November 1996 (age 28) 3 0 Portugal C.S. Marítimo v.  Taiwan, 8 April 2025
    MF Macey Fraser (2002-07-11) 11 July 2002 (age 23) 8 2 New Zealand Wellington Phoenix v.  Costa Rica, 25 February 2025
    FW Grace Jale (1999-04-10) 10 April 1999 (age 26) 35 9 New Zealand Wellington Phoenix v.  Venezuela, 3 June 2025
    FW Ruby Nathan (2005-10-11) 11 October 2005 (age 20) 5 1 Australia Canberra United v.  Venezuela, 3 June 2025
    Notes
    • ALT = Alternate
    • INJ = Withdrew due to injury
    • PRE = Preliminary squad / standby
    • RET = Retired from the national team

    Captains

    [41]

    †Current New Zealand co-captain

    Records

    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

    # Player Years Caps Goals
    1 Ria Percival 2006–2024 166 15
    2 Ali Riley 2007– 159 2
    3 Betsy Hassett 2008– 157 16
    4 Abby Erceg 2006–2023 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 2010–2024 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 2010–2024 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 2006–2024 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

    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
    China 1991Group stage11th3003111Squad Via OFC Women's Nations Cup
    Sweden 1995Did not qualify
    United States 1999
    United States 2003
    China 2007Group stage14th300309Squad
    Germany 201112th301246Squad
    Canada 201519th302123Squad
    France 201920th300315Squad
    Australia New Zealand 202320th311111Squad Qualified as co-hosts
    Brazil 2027To be determined To be determined
    Costa Rica Jamaica Mexico United States 2031
    United Kingdom 2035
    TotalGroup stage6/91814139353228042529

    Olympic Games

    Summer Olympics record
    Year Host Round Pos Pld W D L GF GA GD Squad
    1996 United StatesDid not qualify
    2000 Australia
    2004 GreeceDid not enter
    2008 ChinaGroup stage10th301227−5Squad
    2012 United KingdomQuarter-finals8th410335−2Squad
    2016 BrazilGroup stage9th310215−4Squad
    2020 JapanGroup stage12th3003210−8Squad
    2024 FranceGroup stage10th300326−4Squad
    TotalQuarter-finals5/81621131033−23

    OFC Women's Nations Cup

    OFC Women's Nations Cup record
    Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
    New Caledonia 1983Champions1st4310243
    New Zealand 1986Third place3rd420233
    Australia 1989Runners-up2nd5401101
    Australia 1991Champions1st4301281
    Papua New Guinea 1994Runners-up2nd4301102
    New Zealand 1998Runners-up2nd4301413
    Australia 2003Runners-up2nd4301292
    Papua New Guinea 2007Champions1st3300211
    New Zealand 2010Champions1st5500500
    Papua New Guinea 2014Champions1st3300300
    New Caledonia 2018Champions1st5500430
    Fiji 2022 Did not enter
    Fiji 2025
    Total6 titles11/1345371728916

    AFC Women's Asian Cup

    AFC Women's Asian Cup record
    Year Result Position Pld W D L GF GA
    Invitee
    British Hong Kong 1975Champions1st4400113
    Total1 title1/14400113

    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".[42]

    Portugal Algarve Cup record
    Year Result Matches Wins Draws Losses GF GA GD
    20164th place4121220
    20204th place301226−4
    Total2/28713348−4

    SheBelieves Cup

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

    United States SheBelieves Cup record
    Year Result Matches Wins Draws Losses GF GA GD
    2022 4th301206−6
    Total1/10301206−6

    See also

    References

    1. 1 2 "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. 7 August 2025. Retrieved 7 August 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. ↑ "Behind-closed-doors match called off between Ferns and Chinese Taipei". friendsoffootballnz.com. 5 April 2025. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
    13. ↑ "'Safety concerns' force cancellation of Ferns international against Chinese Tapei". friendsoffootballnz.com. 6 April 2025. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
    14. ↑ "Coaching Records". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
    15. ↑ "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.
    16. ↑ "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.
    17. 1 2 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 %.
    18. ↑ Riddle, Charles (18 August 2017). "Obituary: Waikato women's football pioneer ahead of his time". Stuff.
    19. ↑ 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.
    20. ↑ 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.
    21. ↑ Maddaford, Terry. "Soccer: Fallon and the Rufers tipped as coaches for Kings". The New Zealand Herald.
    22. ↑ Eriksen, Alanah (6 May 2009). "Ex-All White upset by murder story". The New Zealand Herald.
    23. ↑ "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
    24. ↑ Maddaford, Terry (26 April 2005). "Soccer: New coach draws side from far and wide". The New Zealand Herald.
    25. ↑ 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.
    26. ↑ Brown, Michael (9 December 2006). "Soccer: Allan Jones' last crusade". The New Zealand Herald.
    27. ↑ Maddaford, Terry (1 March 2007). "Soccer: Women's coach quits". The New Zealand Herald.
    28. ↑ Runae\f's, Jeremy. "Herdman Embraces "A Massive Responsibility"".
    29. ↑ "Herdman finishing as Football Ferns coach". Stuff. 2 September 2011.
    30. ↑ "New Football Ferns coach appointed". Radio New Zealand. 14 September 2011.
    31. ↑ Voerman, Andrew (2 November 2017). "Departing Football Ferns coach Tony Readings says time right for him to go". Stuff.
    32. ↑ "Heraf named as new Ferns Coach". New Zealand Football. 20 December 2017.
    33. ↑ "New Zealand women's football coach resigns amid alleged 'toxic culture'". The Guardian. 31 July 2018.
    34. ↑ "Sermanni named as Ferns Head Coach". New Zealand Football. 26 October 2018.
    35. ↑ "Football Ferns coach Tom Sermanni steps down". 1116 SEN. 10 June 2021.
    36. ↑ "'Tension not a bad thing': Klimkova's Football Ferns exit sign of growth". 1News. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
    37. ↑ "Ford Football Ferns Squad to Face Mexico and USA Announced". New Zealand Football. 7 October 2025.
    38. ↑ "Phoenix fullback Lara Wall drafted into Ferns squad ahead of October window". friendsoffootballnz.com. 20 October 2025.
    39. ↑ "Defender Rebecca Lake gets call-up to Ferns squad as injury replacement". friendsoffootballnz.com. 21 October 2025.
    40. ↑ New Zealand Squad
    41. 1 2 "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.
    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