New Zealand women's national football team

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

As of 14 July 2021

Worst Ranking Best Ranking Worst Mover Best Mover

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 Loss Fixture Void or Postponed

2025

2026

• – Soccerway.com

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

Manager history

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

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification third round matches against Fiji and Papua New Guinea, on 11 and 15 April 2026, respectively.

Caps and goals correct as of 15 April 2026, after the match against Papua New Guinea.

Recent call-ups

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

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

As of 15 April 2026.

Players in bold are still active with the national team.

Most capped players

Top goalscorers

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

Olympic Games

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.

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

External links