The Football Ferns are getting ready for the World Cup. After qualifying strongly for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup, the squad needs to get ready. So who's in the squad?
Key Takeaways
- The Football Ferns are New Zealand’s women’s national football team.
- Michael Mayne is the current Football Ferns coach.
- New Zealand have qualified for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
- The Football Ferns scored 25 goals and conceded 0 during qualifying.
- Key Football Ferns players include Victoria Esson, Rebekah Stott, Meikayla Moore, Katie Kitching, Grace Jale, and Kelli Brown.
Who Are the Football Ferns Players?
Not to be confused with the men's teams, the All Whites, the Football Ferns are New Zealand's national women's team, and the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup helped raise the profile of women's football nationwide.¹ The squad combines senior leaders, overseas-based professionals, and emerging names. The current squad has options across the pitch, with Michael Mayne describing the group as "based all around the world" before the qualifying campaign began.³ On the back of a strong World Cup qualifying campaign, the Football Ferns will now look to build towards the tournament.
The Football Ferns are New Zealand's women's national football team.² The current Football Ferns squad is led by head coach Michael Mayne. It includes experienced players such as Victoria Esson, Rebekah Stott, Meikayla Moore, Betsy Hassett, Malia Steinmetz, and Hannah Wilkinson.⁴ New Zealand have qualified for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup after beating Papua New Guinea in the Oceania final.¹⁰
| Player | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liz Anton | 27 | 0 | Canberra United, Australia |
| Hannah Blake | 10 | 3 | Durham FC, England |
| Kelli Brown | 11 | 4 | Newcastle Jets, Australia |
| Claudia Bunge | 40 | 1 | Melbourne Victory, Australia |
| Milly Clegg | 23 | 4 | Vittsjö GIK, Sweden |
| Victoria Esson | 32 | 0 | Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand |
| Michaela Foster | 33 | 1 | Durham FC, England |
| Ally Green | 19 | 2 | FC Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Maya Hahn | 8 | 1 | FC Viktoria Berlin, Germany |
| Jacqui Hand | 37 | 9 | FC Basel, Switzerland |
| Deven Jackson | 8 | 1 | Melbourne City FC, Australia |
| Grace Jale | 37 | 10 | Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand |
| Katie Kitching | 26 | 7 | Sunderland AFC, England |
| Charlotte Lancaster | 3 | 0 | Newcastle Jets, Australia |
| Meikayla Moore | 77 | 4 | Calgary Wild, Canada |
| Emma Pijnenburg | 11 | 0 | Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand |
| Gabi Rennie | 45 | 2 | Eskilstuna United DFF, Sweden |
| Indiah-Paige Riley | 37 | 9 | Crystal Palace, England |
| Alina Santos | 2 | 0 | University of Denver, USA |
| Rebekah Stott | 110 | 4 | Melbourne City, Australia |
| Kate Taylor | 30 | 2 | Dijon FCO, France |
| Pia Vlok | 3 | 1 | Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand |
| Grace Wisnewski | 7 | 0 | FC Nordsjælland, Denmark |
Football Ferns Starting 11: Key Players to Watch
The Football Ferns don't have a fixed starting 11 for every match, but some important players are cementing their place in the squad in the build-up to Brazil 2027, just like the All Whites' players are doing for the 2026 World Cup. The group comprises players at different stages of their careers. Here's a whirlwind tour of some of the stars.
Victoria Esson
Rebekah Stott
Meikayla Moore
Mackenzie Barry
Michaela Foster
Malia Steinmetz
Katie Kitching
Grace Jale
Kelli Brown
Who Is the Football Ferns Coach?
The coach is key in international football. They choose and shape the squad. The Football Ferns' coach took over at a key time. So who's the person behind the Football Ferns?
Michael Mayne is the Football Ferns coach, having been named head coach in May 2025.⁶ Before taking the role, he had worked within New Zealand Football's women's development pathway, including with the U-20 women's national team.⁶ Mayne is leading the squad through the build-up to the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil.
How Did the Football Ferns Qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup?
From the outside, the Football Ferns' qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup might look fairly simple. They reached the final stage after winning all three Round 2 matches.⁹ With their victory against Papua New Guinea in the Oceania qualifying final, their place was secured. Now, they have their sights on the tournament.
The Football Ferns qualified for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup by beating Papua New Guinea in the Oceania qualifying final.¹⁰ Katie Kitching scored the decisive goal, securing New Zealand’s place at the tournament in Brazil.¹⁰ The campaign also showed the team’s strength at both ends of the pitch, with New Zealand scoring 25 goals and conceding none during qualifying.¹⁰
The qualification campaign may be remembered as a bit of a goalfest. Their record in front of net shows that the Football Ferns have several players capable of scoring. However, it also makes the choice up front fairly competitive.
goals in qualifying.
Conversely, New Zealand's qualifying campaign was also one of defensive strength. The team didn't concede a single goal in qualifying. A testament to the goalkeeping and the backline. However, it's a team sport, and by controlling matches, every player on the pitch helped the team keep clean sheets.
goals in qualifying!
What’s Next for the Football Ferns?
Before the Football Ferns head to Brazil, the squad has to get ready for the tournament. While they're nowhere near favourites for the competition, they'll want to put in a good showing when they get there after such an excellent qualification campaign. They'll play some friendly matches to do this, and they'll also play outside New Zealand, which should be good practice.
The Football Ferns will face Haiti in Málaga, Spain, in their first international window after qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.⁵
New Zealand will also play Morocco at the same venue, giving Michael Mayne's squad another useful test against a team from outside Oceania.⁵
NZ Football says these fixtures will be the first senior international matches between the Football Ferns and either Haiti or Morocco.⁵
References
- FIFA. “FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023™ Impact.” FIFA, https://inside.fifa.com/womens-football/fwwc-impact/contributing-areas. Accessed 19 May 2026.
- New Zealand Football. “Ford Football Ferns.” New Zealand Football, https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/ford-football-ferns. Accessed 19 May 2026.
- New Zealand Football. “Ford Football Ferns Ready to Get 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualification Underway in Solomon Islands.” New Zealand Football, 26 Feb. 2026, https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/162938?newsfeedId=1275608. Accessed 19 May 2026.
- New Zealand Football. “Ford Football Ferns Squad Named for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 Oceania Qualifiers Finals in New Zealand.” New Zealand Football, 19 Mar. 2026, https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/163813?newsfeedId=2064762. Accessed 19 May 2026.
- New Zealand Football. “Ford Football Ferns to Face Haiti and Morocco in Spain This June.” New Zealand Football, 7 May 2026, https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/165460?newsfeedId=2064762. Accessed 19 May 2026.
- New Zealand Football. “Michael Mayne Named Ford Football Ferns Head Coach.” New Zealand Football, 23 May 2025, https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/153723. Accessed 19 May 2026.
- New Zealand Football. “Two New Names in Ford Football Ferns Squad to Start FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 Qualifying Journey.” New Zealand Football, 4 Feb. 2026, https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/162104?newsfeedId=1275608. Accessed 19 May 2026.
- Oceania Football Confederation. “FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ Oceania Qualifiers Round 3: Players to Watch.” Oceania Football Confederation, 8 Apr. 2026, https://www.oceaniafootball.com/fifa-womens-world-cup-2027-oceania-qualifiers-round-3-players-to-watch/. Accessed 19 May 2026.
- Oceania Football Confederation. “FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ Oceania Qualifiers: Round 2 Review.” Oceania Football Confederation, 9 Mar. 2026, https://www.oceaniafootball.com/fifa-womens-world-cup-2027-oceania-qualifiers-round-2-review/. Accessed 19 May 2026.
- Oceania Football Confederation. “Kitching Header Secures New Zealand’s FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ Qualification.” Oceania Football Confederation, 15 Apr. 2026, https://www.oceaniafootball.com/kitching-header-secures-new-zealands-fifa-womens-world-cup-2027-qualification/. Accessed 19 May 2026.
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