New Zealand women's national football team

The New Zealand women's national football team (recognised as Aotearoa New Zealand by FIFA) 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. 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

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

2024

 * New Zealand Fixtures and Results – Soccerway.com

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)
 * 🇳🇿 Doug 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–)

Current squad
Caps and goals are current as of 3 June 2024 after the match against Japan.
 * The following 18 players were named to the squad for the 2024 Summer Olympics from 25 July to 10 August 2024.

Recent call-ups
The following players have been called up within the last 12 months and remain eligible for selection.

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.

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.



Continental

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


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

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.