New Zealand women's national football team

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-hosts. 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 with Switzerland in their final match and were eliminated after Norway defeated the 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

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

2025

• Chinchilla
• Riley
• Hahn
• Kitching
• Castellanos
• Romero
• Chirinos
• Clegg
• Hand
• Speckmaier
• Farmer
• Ordóñez
• Sánchez
• Sears
• Cooper
• Lavelle
• Macario
• Sayer
• Raso
• Carpenter
• Cooney-Cross
• Gorry
• Kennedy
• Raso

2026

• New Zealand Fixtures and Results – Soccerway.com

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

Manager history

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

Players

Main article: List of New Zealand women's international footballers

Current squad

The following players were called up for the friendly matches against Australia on 28 November and 2 December 2025. 

:Caps and goals correct as of 29 October 2025, after the match against United States. 

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the squad within the past 12 months.

;Notes

• ALT = Alternate
• INJ = Withdrew due to injury MED = Withdrew due to medical reasons --
• PRE = Preliminary squad / standby
• RET = Retired from the national team SUS = Serving suspension -- TOP = Train-on player -- UNV = Unavailable for selection -- WD = Player withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue --

Captains

• Ali Riley – 50 matches (2017–2025)
• 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

Records

Main article: List of New Zealand women's international footballers

Bold players are still active. :Statistics as of 2 December 2025.

Most capped players

Top goalscorers

Honours

Major competitions

• OFC Women's Nations Cup : [[File:Med 1.png]] Champions (6): 1983, 1991, 2007, 2010, 2014, 2018 : [[File:Med 2.png]] Runners-up (4): 1989, 1994, 1998, 2003

• AFC Women's Championship : [[File:Med 1.png]] Champions: 1975

• CONCACAF W Championship : [[File:Med 2.png]] Runners-up (1): 1993

Competitive record

FIFA Women's World Cup

Main article: New Zealand at the FIFA Women's World Cup

Olympic Games

Main article: Football at the Summer Olympics

OFC Women's Nations Cup

AFC Women's Asian Cup

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".

SheBelieves Cup

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

References

References

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