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. 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-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
Worst Ranking Best Ranking Worst Mover Best Mover
Rank Year GamesPlayed Won Lost Drawn Best Worst 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
2025
2026
New Zealand Fixtures and Results – Soccerway.com
Coaching staff
Current coaching staff Position NameHead coach Michael MayneAssistant coach Jenni FosterAssistant coach Sam WilkinsonGoalkeeping coach Will BrittSports Scientist Reilly O'Meagher
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 called up for the friendly matches against Panama, on 10 and 13 October 2026.
Caps and goals correct as of 9 June 2026, after the match against Morocco.
Recent call-ups The following players have also been called up to the squad within the past 12 months.
Notes = Alternate = Withdrew due to injury
= Preliminary squad / standby = Retired from the national team
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
Caps 'n' Goals
Players in bold are still active with the national team.
Most Appearances
RankPlayerCareerCapsGoals12006–20231661522007–2024163232008–20251601642006–2022146652006–20251441562004–2018125542010–20241253282006–2019124192011–present1164102012–present1144
Top goalscorers
RankPlayerCareerGoalsCapsAvg.1 (list)2004–20185412521980–199534472010–20203410042010–20243212552009–20212411161979–199617531987–2007176482008–20251616091998–19981572006–2025151442006–202315166
Honours Major competitions OFC Women's Nations Cup Champions (6): 1983, 1991, 2007, 2010, 2014, 2018 Runners-up (4): 1989, 1994, 1998, 2003
AFC Women's Championship Champions: 1975
CONCACAF W Championship Runners-up (1): 1993
Competitive record
FIFA Women's World Cup
New Zealand's FIFA Women's World Cup recordQualification recordYearRoundSquadOutcome 1991Group stage11th3003111SquadVia OFC Women's Nations Cup 1995Did not qualify 1999 2003 2007Group stage14th300309Squad 201112th301246Squad 201519th302123Squad 201920th300315Squad 202320th311111SquadQualified as co-hosts 2027Qualified1st5500250 2031To be determinedTo be determined 2035Total7/10181413935 3733042779
FIFA Women's World Cup historyYearHostRoundDateOpponentResultStadium1991Group stage17 NovemberL 0–3Tianhe Stadium, Guangzhou19 NovemberL 0–4Guangdong Provincial Stadium, Guangzhou21 NovemberL 1–4New Plaza Stadium, Foshan2007Group stage12 SeptemberL 0–5Wuhan Stadium, Wuhan15 SeptemberL 0–220 SeptemberL 0–2Tianjin Olympic Centre Stadium, Tianjin2011Group stage27 JuneL 1–2Ruhrstadion, Bochum1 JulyL 1–2Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion, Dresden5 JulyD 2–2Rhein-Neckar-Arena, Sinsheim2015Group stage6 JuneL 0–1Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton11 JuneD 0–015 JuneD 2–2Winnipeg Stadium, Winnipeg2019Group stage11 JuneL 0–1Stade Océane, Le Havre15 JuneL 0–2Stade des Alpes, Grenoble20 JuneL 1–2Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier2023Group stage20 JulyW 1–0Eden Park, Auckland25 JulyL 0–1Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington30 JulyD 0–0Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Olympic Games
Summer Olympics recordYearHostRoundSquad1996Did not qualify20002004Did not enter2008Group stage10th301227−5Squad2012Quarter-finals8th410335−2Squad2016Group stage9th310215−4Squad2020Group stage12th3003210−8Squad2024Group stage10th300326−4SquadTotalQuarter-finals5/81621131033−23
OFC Women's Nations Cup OFC Women's Nations Cup recordYearRoundPosition 1983Champions1st4310243Third place3rd420233 1989Runners-up2nd5401101 1991Champions1st4301281 1994Runners-up2nd4301102 19982nd4301413 2003Runners-up2nd4301292 2007Champions1st3300211 2010Champions1st5500500 2014Champions1st3300300Champions1st5500430 2022Did not enter 2025Total11/1345371728916
AFC Women's Asian Cup AFC Women's Asian Cup recordYearResultPositionInvitee 1975Champions1st4400113Total1 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".
Algarve Cup record YearResultMatches Wins DrawsLosses GF GA GD20164th place412122020204th place301226−4Total 2/28 713348−4
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 YearResultMatches Wins DrawsLosses GF GA GD20224th301206−6Total 1/10 301206−6
See also
Sport in New Zealand Football in New Zealand Women's football in New Zealand New Zealand women's national football team New Zealand women's national football team results List of New Zealand women's international footballers New Zealand women's national under-20 football team New Zealand women's national under-17 football team
References
External links
FIFA profile