New Zealand Nickname Football Ferns[ 1] Association New Zealand Football Confederation OFC (Oceania)Head coach Michael Mayne Captain Ali Riley Most caps Ria Percival (166)Top scorer Amber Hearn (54)FIFA code NZL
Current 33 [ 2] Highest 16 (December 2013, July 2015 – March 2016) Lowest 35 (December 2025) New Zealand 2–0 Hong Kong Hong Kong ; 25 August 1975)New Zealand 21–0 Samoa Auckland , New Zealand; 9 October 1998)North Korea 11–0 New Zealand Brisbane , Australia; 24 February 2004)Appearances 6 (first in 1991 ) Best result Group stage (1991 , 2007 , 2011 , 2015 , 2019 , 2023 ) Appearances 5 (first in 2008 ) Best result Quarter-finals (2012 ) Appearances 11 (first in 1983 ) Best result Champions (1983, 1991 , 2007, 2010, 2014 , 2018 )
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] 2023 World Cup alongside Australia .[ 4]
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]
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.
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,[ 6] 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.[ 7]
Team image
The New Zealand women's national football team are also known by their nickname the "Football Ferns".[ 1] 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
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
Coaching staff
Current coaching staff
Position
Name[ 11]
Head coach
Assistant coach
Assistant coach
Assistant coach
Goalkeeping coach
Performance Analyst
Sports Scientist
Manager history
[ 12]
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. [ 36] [ 37]
Caps and goals correct as of 15 April 2026, after the match against Papua New Guinea . [ 38]
Recent call-ups
The following players have also been called up to the squad within the past 12 months.
Captains
[ 39]
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
Records
As of 15 April 2026 [ 40] Players in bold are still active with the national team.
Most capped players
Ria Percival is the most capped player
Top goalscorers
Amber Hearn is the all-time top scorer
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
New Zealand's FIFA Women's World Cup record
Qualification record
Year
Round
Squad
Outcome
1991 Group stage
11th
3
0
0
3
1
11
Squad
Via OFC Women's Nations Cup
1995 Did not qualify
1999
2003
2007 Group stage
14th
3
0
0
3
0
9
Squad
2011 12th
3
0
1
2
4
6
Squad
2015 19th
3
0
2
1
2
3
Squad
2019 20th
3
0
0
3
1
5
Squad
2023 20th
3
1
1
1
1
1
Squad
Qualified as co-hosts
2027 Qualified
1st
5
5
0
0
25
0
To be determined
To be determined
Total
Group stage 7/10
18
1
4
13
9
35
37
33
0
4
277
9
FIFA Women's World Cup history
Year
Host
Round
Date
Opponent
Result
Stadium
1991
China
Group stage
17 November
Denmark L 0–3Tianhe Stadium , Guangzhou
19 November
Norway L 0–4Guangdong Provincial Stadium, Guangzhou
21 November
China L 1–4New Plaza Stadium, Foshan
2007
China
Group stage
12 September
Brazil L 0–5Wuhan Stadium , Wuhan
15 September
Denmark L 0–2
20 September
China L 0–2Tianjin Olympic Centre Stadium , Tianjin
2011
Germany
Group stage
27 June
Japan L 1–2Ruhrstadion , Bochum
1 July
England L 1–2Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion , Dresden
5 July
Mexico D 2–2Rhein-Neckar-Arena , Sinsheim
2015
Canada
Group stage
6 June
Netherlands L 0–1Commonwealth Stadium , Edmonton
11 June
Canada D 0–0
15 June
China D 2–2Winnipeg Stadium , Winnipeg
2019
France
Group stage
11 June
Netherlands L 0–1Stade Océane , Le Havre
15 June
Canada L 0–2Stade des Alpes , Grenoble
20 June
Cameroon L 1–2Stade de la Mosson , Montpellier
2023
Australia New Zealand
Group stage
20 July
Norway W 1–0Eden Park , Auckland
25 July
Philippines L 0–1Wellington Regional Stadium , Wellington
30 July
Switzerland D 0–0Forsyth Barr Stadium , Dunedin
Olympic Games
OFC Women's Nations Cup record
Year
Round
Position
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
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
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
Champions 1st 3 3 0 0 21 1
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
Did not enter
Total
6 titles 11/13
45
37
1
7
289
16
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".[ 41]
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
2/28
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
2022
4th
3
0
1
2
0
6
−6
Total
1/10
3
0
1
2
0
6
−6
See also
References
^ a b "Soccer women step out with new name – Football Ferns" . Stuff . Retrieved 29 July 2023 .^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking" . 21 April 2026. Retrieved 21 April 2026 .^ "1975 ASIAN CUP" . New Zealand Football on NZfootball.co.nz . Archived from the original on 2 September 2007. Retrieved 5 December 2008 .^ Diamond, Drew (12 November 2023). "World Cup legacy continues to take effect in Aotearoa-New Zealand" . Her Football Hub . Retrieved 12 November 2023 . ^ "1975" . RSSSF . Retrieved 11 April 2019 .^ Gastelum, Andrew (20 July 2023). "New Zealand Records First World Cup Win With Upset Over Norway" . Sports Illustrated . ^ "New Zealand makes history by being ousted in group stage, as Group A is settled" . Fox Sports . 31 July 2023.^ "Nike unveils Football Ferns FIFA World Cup team kits and innovative period wear" . New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 20 July 2023 .^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking – Associations – New Zealand – Women's" . FIFA . 25 June 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021 .^ Voerman, Andrew (15 April 2026). "Football Ferns flub their lines before beating Papua New Guinea to book FIFA Women's World Cup spot" . Stuff . Retrieved 15 April 2026 . ^ "Ferns Legend and English WSL Coach Join Ford Football Ferns Coaching Staff for FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 Cycle" . New Zealand Football . 17 October 2025. Retrieved 2 November 2025 .^ "Coaching Records" . The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website . Retrieved 3 January 2024 .^ "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. ^ "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. ^ a b 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 %. ^ Riddle, Charles (18 August 2017). "Obituary: Waikato women's football pioneer ahead of his time" . Stuff ^ 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. ^ 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. ^ Maddaford, Terry. "Soccer: Fallon and the Rufers tipped as coaches for Kings" . The New Zealand Herald ^ Eriksen, Alanah (6 May 2009). "Ex-All White upset by murder story" . The New Zealand Herald ^ "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 ^ Maddaford, Terry (26 April 2005). "Soccer: New coach draws side from far and wide" . The New Zealand Herald ^ 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. ^ Brown, Michael (9 December 2006). "Soccer: Allan Jones' last crusade" . The New Zealand Herald ^ Maddaford, Terry (1 March 2007). "Soccer: Women's coach quits" . The New Zealand Herald ^ Runae\f's, Jeremy. "Herdman Embraces "A Massive Responsibility" . ^ "Herdman finishing as Football Ferns coach" . Stuff ^ "New Football Ferns coach appointed" . Radio New Zealand . 14 September 2011.^ Voerman, Andrew (2 November 2017). "Departing Football Ferns coach Tony Readings says time right for him to go" . Stuff ^ "Heraf named as new Ferns Coach" . New Zealand Football . 20 December 2017.^ "New Zealand women's football coach resigns amid alleged 'toxic culture' . The Guardian ^ "Sermanni named as Ferns Head Coach" . New Zealand Football . 26 October 2018.^ "Football Ferns coach Tom Sermanni steps down" . 1116 SEN . 10 June 2021.^ " . 1News . Retrieved 16 September 2024 .^ "Michael Mayne Named Football Ferns Head Coach" . New Zealand Football . Retrieved 23 May 2025 .^ "Football Ferns named for World Cup Oceania Qualifiers Finals in NZ" . RNZ ^ "Winger Manaia Elliott gets Football Ferns call-up as injury replacement" . Friends of Football NZ . 7 April 2026.^ "Ford Football Ferns" . New Zealand Football . Retrieved 15 April 2026 .^ "Roll of Honour" . The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website . Archived from the original on 22 July 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021 .^ Caps 'n' Goals ^ "Women's game thriving in the Algarve" . FIFA the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2014 .
External links
General Statistics Players Goals World Cups OFC Nations Cup Olympic Games Rivalries Other NZF teams † By invitation, the New Zealand team took part in the 1975 AFC Women's Championship. They have since then played in the Oceanic Championship.
National teams
League system
Men (level 1) Men (level 2) Men (level 3)
Canterbury Premiership
Central League 2
NRFL Championship
Southern Premier Men (level 4)
Canterbury Championship
Capital Premier
Central Federation League (defunct )
Western Premiership
Eastern Premiership
Donald Gray Memorial Cup
Fletcher Cup
Nelson Bays Premiership Division 1
NRFL Conference
South Canterbury Division 1
Marlborough Division 1 Men (level 5)
NRF League One
Southland Division 1
WaiBOP League One
Capital Division 1
Horizons Premiership
Pacific Premiership
Taranaki Premiership
Eastern League 1
Nelson Bays Division 2
Marlborough Division 2
Mainland Division 1
South Canterbury Division 2
Otago Division 2 Men (level 6)
Northland Division 1
NRF Championship Division 1
WaiBop Championship
Capital Division 2
Taranaki Championship
Manawatu Championship
Whanganui Roly Taylor Championship
Hawkes Bay Division 2
Mainland Division 2
Otago Division 3
Southland Division 2
Unaffiliated West Coast Senior Football Women
National Women's League
Capital Football W-League
NRFL Women's Premiership
Women's South Island League
NRFL Women's Championship Youth
Domestic cups
Awards Lists
All-time Table Champions Clubs
International footballers
Foreign players
Venues
Women's association football in New Zealand
League system
Men's clubs
Women's clubs
Men's players
Women's players
Expatriate players
Managers
Referees
Venues
Seasons
Records
New Zealand squads – FIFA Women's World Cup
1 King (c )
2 Parr
3 Chaney
4 Pedruco
5 Pullen
6 Taylor
7 Jacobson
8 Van de Elzen
9 Henderson
10 Baker
11 Crawford
12 Campbell
13 Nye
14 George
15 McCahill
16 Robertson
17 Warring
18 Smith
Coach: Boardman
New Zealand women's football squads – Summer Olympics
1 Leat
2 Taylor
3 Barry
4 Bott
5 Moore
6 Steinmetz
7 Foster
8 Fraser
9 Rennie
10 Riley
11 Kitching
12 Esson
13 Stott (c )
14 Bowen
15 Green
16 Hand
17 Clegg
18 Jale
20 Longo
Coach: Mayne
New Zealand at the FIFA Women's World Cup
Champions Runner-up Third place Fourth place Quarter-finals Group stage
Champions Runner-up Third place Fourth place Quarter-finals Group stage
Champions Runner-up Third place Fourth place Quarter-finals Group stage
Champions Runner-up Third place Fourth place Quarter-finals Round of 16 Group stage
Champions Runner-up Third place Fourth place Quarter-finals Round of 16 Group stage
Champions Runner-up Third place Fourth place Quarter-finals Round of 16 Group stage
† Associate member – Not a member of FIFA
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W
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Football
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Water polo
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Olympics Paralympics
Deaflympics
Commonwealth Games
2 (21 April 2026)[2]
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North Korea 11–0 New Zealand 
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Venezuela 
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Solomon Islands 
Fiji 
Jenni Foster
Will Britt
Andreas Heraf (2017–2018)[30][31]
Tom Sermanni (2018–2021)[32][33]
Jitka Klimková (2021–2024)[34]
Dijon
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Calgary Wild
Viktoria Berlin
FC Nordsjælland
Vittsjö GIK
Kolbotn
Inter Milan
Stjarnan
Champions: 1975
Runners-up (1): 1993
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2019
2027
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2035
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Greece
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Algarve Cup record
