# New Zealand women's national football team

The New Zealand women's national football team 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. New Zealand co-hosted the 2023 World Cup alongside Australia. 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. 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, 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.

## Team image

The New Zealand women's national football team are also known by their nickname the "Football Ferns". 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.

## FIFA world rankings

    As of 14 July 2021
Worst Ranking Best Ranking Worst Mover Best Mover
New Zealand's FIFA world rankings :
| Rank | Year | Games Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | Best | Best | Worst | Worst |
| Rank | Year | Games Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | Rank | Move | Rank | Move |
| 22 | 2021 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 22 | 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.

### Legend

Win  Draw  Lose  Fixture

### 2025

* New Zealand Fixtures and Results – Soccerway.com

## Coaching staff
### Current coaching staff

| Position | Name |
| Technical director | Andrew Boyens |
| Head coach (interim) | Michael Mayne |
| Assistant coach | Natalie Lawrence |

### Manager history

* Dave Farrington (1975–1979)
* Ken Armstrong (1980)
* Dave Boardman (1981–1982)
* Roy Cox (1983–1987)
* Dave Boardman (1988–1994)
* Jeff Coulshed (1994)
* Nora Watkins (1995)
* Maurice Tillotson (1995–1998)
* Douglas Moore (1999–2000)
* Sandy Davie (2001–2003)
* Fred Simpson (2003)
* Alison Grant & Wendi Henderson (2004)
* Mick Leonard (2005)
* John Herdman (2006)
* Allan Jones (2006–2007)
* John Herdman (2007–2011)
* Tony Readings (2011–2017)
* Andreas Heraf (2017–2018)
* Tom Sermanni (2018–2021)
* Jitka Klimková (2021–2024)
* Michael Mayne (2024–)

## Players
### Current squad

** The following players were named for the friendly game against Costa Rica on February 2025.
Caps and goals are current as of 31 July 2024 after the match against France.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
| 1GK | Brianna Edwards | (2003-01-27) 27 January 2003 (age 22) | 1 | 0 | Sydney FC |
| 1GK | Victoria Esson | (1991-03-06) 6 March 1991 (age 34) | 24 | 0 | Rangers |
| 2DF | Elizabeth Anton | (1998-12-12) 12 December 1998 (age 26) | 20 | 0 | Canberra United |
| 2DF | Mackenzie Barry | (2001-04-11) 11 April 2001 (age 23) | 20 | 1 | Wellington Phoenix |
| 2DF | Claudia Bunge | (1999-09-21) 21 September 1999 (age 25) | 31 | 0 | Melbourne Victory |
| 2DF | Michaela Foster | (1999-01-09) 9 January 1999 (age 26) | 21 | 1 | Durham WFC |
| 2DF | Meikayla Moore | (1996-06-04) 4 June 1996 (age 28) | 67 | 4 | Calgary Wild |
| 2DF | Grace Neville | (2000-04-09) 9 April 2000 (age 24) | 10 | 0 | London City Lionesses |
| 2DF | Kate Taylor | (2003-10-21) 21 October 2003 (age 21) | 21 | 2 | Dijon |
| 3MF | Macey Fraser | (2002-07-11) 11 July 2002 (age 22) | 5 | 2 | Utah Royals |
| 3MF | Grace Jale | (1999-04-10) 10 April 1999 (age 25) | 34 | 9 | Wellington Phoenix |
| 3MF | Katie Kitching | (1998-09-06) 6 September 1998 (age 26) | 14 | 5 | Sunderland |
| 3MF | Annalie Longo | (1991-07-01) 1 July 1991 (age 33) | 136 | 15 | Wellington Phoenix |
| 4FW | Hannah Blake | (2000-05-05) 5 May 2000 (age 24) | 6 | 0 | Adelaide United |
| 4FW | Milly Clegg | (2005-11-01) 1 November 2005 (age 19) | 10 | 1 | Racing Louisville |
| 4FW | Jacqui Hand | (1999-02-19) 19 February 1999 (age 26) | 30 | 8 | Sheffield United |
| 4FW | Ruby Nathan | (2005-10-11) 11 October 2005 (age 19) | 5 | 1 | Canberra United |
| 4FW | Indiah-Paige Riley | (2001-12-20) 20 December 2001 (age 23) | 27 | 6 | Crystal Palace |
| | Kelli Brown | | 0 | 0 | Perth Glory |
| | Geo Candy | | 0 | 0 | Melbourne Victory |
| | Manaia Elliott | | 0 | 0 | Wellington Phoenix |
| | Maya Hahn | | 0 | 0 | FFC Turbine Potsdam |
| | Emma Pijnenburg | | 0 | 0 | Feyenoord Rotterdam, |

### Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up within the last 12 months and remain eligible for selection.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
| GK | Murphy Sheaff | (2003-09-12) 12 September 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Jacksonville Dolphins | 2024 Summer Olympics$^{ALT}$ |
| GK | Anna Leat | (2001-06-26) 26 June 2001 (age 23) | 22 | 0 | Unattached | 2024 Summer Olympics |
| DF | Ali Riley | (1987-10-30) 30 October 1987 (age 37) | 163 | 2 | Angel City | 2024 Summer Olympics$^{INJ}$ |
| DF | Katie Bowen | (1994-04-15) 15 April 1994 (age 30) | 113 | 4 | Inter Milan | 2024 Summer Olympics |
| DF | Rebekah Stott | (1993-06-17) 17 June 1993 (age 31) | 106 | 4 | Melbourne City | 2024 Summer Olympics |
| DF | CJ Bott | (1995-04-22) 22 April 1995 (age 29) | 50 | 3 | Leicester City | 2024 Summer Olympics |
| DF | Ally Green | (1998-08-17) 17 August 1998 (age 26) | 17 | 2 | AGF | 2024 Summer Olympics |
| MF | Daisy Cleverley | (1997-04-30) 30 April 1997 (age 27) | 39 | 2 | HB Køge | v. Japan, 3 June 2024 |
| MF | Betsy Hassett | (1990-08-04) 4 August 1990 (age 34) | 157 | 16 | Stjarnan | 2024 OFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament |
| MF | Malia Steinmetz | (1999-01-18) 18 January 1999 (age 26) | 35 | 0 | Nordsjælland | 2024 Summer Olympics |
| FW | Hannah Wilkinson | (1992-05-28) 28 May 1992 (age 32) | 125 | 32 | Melbourne City | v. Japan, 3 June 2024 |
| FW | Paige Satchell | (1998-04-13) 13 April 1998 (age 26) | 49 | 2 | London City Lionesses | v. Thailand, 9 April 2024 |
| FW | Ava Collins | (2002-04-18) 18 April 2002 (age 22) | 16 | 0 | Kolding IF | 2024 OFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament |
| FW | Gabi Rennie | (2001-07-07) 7 July 2001 (age 23) | 37 | 2 | Åland United | 2024 Summer Olympics |
| Notes: $^{RET}$ Retired from national team. $^{PRE}$ Preliminary squad / standby $^{UNV}$ Made themselves unavailable for selection $^{INJ}$ Withdrew due to an injury. $^{COVID}$ Withdrew due to COVID–19. $^{TOP}$ Train-on player. $^{ALT}$ Alternate. |||||||

### Captains

* Ali Riley – 50 matches (2017– ) †
* Abby Erceg – 49 matches (2013–2017)
* Rebecca Smith – 45 matches (2003–2007, 2011–2012)
* Hayley Moorwood – 43 matches (2007–2011
* Barbara Cox – 19 matches (1975,1984–1987)
* Terry McCahill – 14 matches (1995–1998)
* Marilyn Marshall – 12 matches (?)
* Wendi Henderson – 9 matches (2000, 2006–2007)
* Maureen Jacobson – 9 matches (2005–2006)
* Ali Grant – 6 matches (1981–1983)
* Ria Percival – 6 matches (2017, 2019, 2023– ) †
* Leslie King – 5 matches (1991)
* Viv Robertson – 5 matches (1998–1991)
* Rebekah Stott - 7 matches
†Current New Zealand co-captain

## Records

Bold players are still active.
    Statistics as of 19 February 2024.

### 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– | 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 |
| 2 | 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 |
| 6 | Wendi Henderson | 1987–2007 | 17 | 64 |
| 8 | Betsy Hassett | 2008– | 16 | 157 |
| 9 | Pernille Andersen | 1998 | 15 | 7 |
| 9 | Annalie Longo | 2006– | 15 | 133 |
| 9 | Ria Percival | 2006– | 15 | 166 |

## Honours
### Continental

* OFC Women's Nations Cup
    Champions: 1983, 1991, 2007, 2010, 2014, 2018
    Runners-up: 1989, 1994, 1998, 2003
* AFC Women's Championship
    Champions: 1975

## Competitive record
### FIFA Women's World Cup

| New Zealand's FIFA Women's World Cup record | New Zealand's FIFA Women's World Cup record | New Zealand's FIFA Women's World Cup record | New Zealand's FIFA Women's World Cup record | New Zealand's FIFA Women's World Cup record | New Zealand's FIFA Women's World Cup record | New Zealand's FIFA Women's World Cup record | New Zealand's FIFA Women's World Cup record | New Zealand's FIFA Women's World Cup record | New Zealand's FIFA Women's World Cup record | New Zealand's FIFA Women's World Cup record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record |
| Year | Host | Round | Pos | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Squad | Outcome | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
| 1991 | China | Group stage | 11th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 11 | Squad | Qualified | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 28 | 1 |
| 1995 | Sweden | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 2nd | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 2 |
| 1999 | United States | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 2nd | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 41 | 3 |
| 2003 | United States | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 2nd | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 29 | 2 |
| 2007 | China | Group stage | 14th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | Squad | Qualified | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 1 |
| 2011 | Germany | Group stage | 12th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | Squad | Qualified | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 0 |
| 2015 | Canada | Group stage | 19th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | Squad | Qualified | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 |
| 2019 | France | Group stage | 20th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | Squad | Qualified | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 0 |
| 2023 | Australia New Zealand | Group stage | 20th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Squad | Qualified as co-hosts | Qualified as co-hosts | Qualified as co-hosts | Qualified as co-hosts | Qualified as co-hosts | Qualified as co-hosts | Qualified as co-hosts |
| 2027 | Brazil | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined |
| Total | Total | Group stage | 6/10 | 18 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 9 | 35 | | | 32 | 28 | 0 | 4 | 252 | 9 |
FIFA Women's World Cup history :
| Year | Host | Round | Date | Opponent | Result | Stadium |
| 1991 | China | Group stage | 17 November | Denmark | L 0–3 | Tianhe Stadium, Guangzhou |
| 1991 | China | Group stage | 19 November | Norway | L 0–4 | Guangdong Provincial Stadium, Guangzhou |
| 1991 | China | Group stage | 21 November | China | L 1–4 | New Plaza Stadium, Foshan |
| 2007 | China | Group stage | 12 September | Brazil | L 0–5 | Wuhan Stadium, Wuhan |
| 2007 | China | Group stage | 15 September | Denmark | L 0–2 | Wuhan Stadium, Wuhan |
| 2007 | China | Group stage | 20 September | China | L 0–2 | Tianjin Olympic Centre Stadium, Tianjin |
| 2011 | Germany | Group stage | 27 June | Japan | L 1–2 | Ruhrstadion, Bochum |
| 2011 | Germany | Group stage | 1 July | England | L 1–2 | Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion, Dresden |
| 2011 | Germany | Group stage | 5 July | Mexico | D 2–2 | Rhein-Neckar-Arena, Sinsheim |
| 2015 | Canada | Group stage | 6 June | Netherlands | L 0–1 | Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton |
| 2015 | Canada | Group stage | 11 June | Canada | D 0–0 | Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton |
| 2015 | Canada | Group stage | 15 June | China | D 2–2 | Winnipeg Stadium, Winnipeg |
| 2019 | France | Group stage | 11 June | Netherlands | L 0–1 | Stade Océane, Le Havre |
| 2019 | France | Group stage | 15 June | Canada | L 0–2 | Stade des Alpes, Grenoble |
| 2019 | France | Group stage | 20 June | Cameroon | L 1–2 | Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier |
| 2023 | Australia New Zealand | Group stage | 20 July | Norway | W 1–0 | Eden Park, Auckland |
| 2023 | Australia New Zealand | Group stage | 25 July | Philippines | L 0–1 | Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington |
| 2023 | Australia New Zealand | Group stage | 30 July | Switzerland | D 0–0 | Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin |

### Olympic Games

Summer Olympics record :
| Year | Host | Round | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Squad |
| 1996 | United States | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2000 | Australia | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2004 | Greece | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | 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 | Total | Quarter-finals | 5/8 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 10 | 33 | −23 | |

### OFC Women's Nations Cup

OFC Women's Nations Cup record :
| Year | Result | 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 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2025 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 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".
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 | 2/27 | 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 |
| 2016 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2017 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2018 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2019 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2020 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2021 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2022 | 4th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | −6 |
| 2023 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2024 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| Total | 1/7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | −6 |