Women's football in New Zealand | |
---|---|
Country | New Zealand |
Governing body | New Zealand Football |
National team(s) | Women's national team |
Club competitions | |
International competitions | |
Olympics (national team) FIFA Women's World Cup (national team) OFC Women's Nations Cup (national team) | |
Audience records | |
Single match | 42,137 New Zealand vs Norway [1] |
Association football in New Zealand is one of the fastest growing and most popular sports amongst women. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] The National Women's League was created in 2002 in order to help improve the New Zealand women's national football team. [7] New Zealand Football is now focusing its efforts on youth development so the country can be internationally competitive. [8]
The earliest development of women's football begun in 1973. [9] [10] [11] [12] The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup was hosted in New Zealand.
The Women's Soccer Association of New Zealand (WSANZ) used to have sole control of the women's game in New Zealand it merged after becoming part of the national body, New Zealand Football. [10]
WSANZ has disbanded its organisation and operates under New Zealand Football. [13] New Zealand Football is the governs women's football in the country. [14]
The National Women's League is the top tier professional Women's football league in New Zealand.
The women's team's greatest international achievement was to win 1975 AFC Women's Championship. [15] The national team has never reached the second round of the World Cup. [16] OFC Women's Nations Cup is used as a qualifier for the world cup
The New Zealand men's national football team represents New Zealand in men's international football competitions. The team is governed by the governing body for football in New Zealand, New Zealand Football (NZF), which is currently a member of FIFA and the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). The team's official nickname is the All Whites.
Wellington Regional Stadium is a major sporting venue in Wellington, New Zealand. The stadium's bowl site size is 48,000 m2 (520,000 sq ft).
New Zealand Football is the governing body for the sport of association football in New Zealand. It oversees the seven New Zealand Football federations, as well as the New Zealand men's national football team, the national junior and women's teams, the men's and women's national Leagues New Zealand National League, National Women's League, and a number of tournaments, including the Chatham Cup and Kate Sheppard Cup. A New Zealand team, Wellington Phoenix FC who plays in the Australian A-League also comes under New Zealand Football jurisdiction.
The New Zealand women's national football team is governed by New Zealand Football (NZF). They are nicknamed the Football Ferns.
Jenny Lynn Bindon is an American-born association football coach and former goalkeeper who represented New Zealand at the international level. She played 77 full internationals in between 2004 and 2010. She is currently an assistant coach of the London City Lionesses.
Abby May Erceg is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a defender for Racing Louisville FC in the National Women's Soccer League. She has previously played for Chicago Red Stars and North Carolina Courage in the NWSL, Jena in the German Bundesliga, FC Saitama in the Japanese Nadashiko League and Adelaide United in the Australian W-League. She formerly played for the New Zealand national team, where she became the first player from New Zealand to play 100 international matches.
Rebecca Katie Smith is an international footballer who played for New Zealand.
Annalie Antonia Longo is an association football player who plays for Wellington Phoenix in the A-League Women and represents New Zealand at international level. She has played for Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory in the Australian W-League. From her time in the W-League with Melbourne Victory, Longo is dubbed the Kiwi Messi by the fans for her ability on the ball and goalscoring prowess.
The National League is the top-level women's football league in New Zealand. The teams were run by regional federations until 2021, when New Zealand Football started to move to club-based football.
Hannah Lilian Wilkinson is a New Zealand football player who plays for Melbourne City in the Australian A-League Women and the New Zealand national team.
Jitka Klimková is a Czech football coach and former football player. In September 2021 she was appointed head coach of the Football Ferns, the New Zealand women's national football team.
John Herdman is an English professional football manager who is the head coach of Toronto FC in Major League Soccer. He previously served as the head coach of the Canada men's national soccer team.
Anthony David Readings is a pro licence-qualified English football coach, performance specialist and former player who played for A.F.C. Wimbledon and North Shore United. He is currently the Director of Football for Eastern Suburbs AFC and coaches the men's first team in the New Zealand national league. From 2011 to 2017, he was the head coach of the Football Ferns, New Zealand's national women's football team.
Erin Nicole Nayler is a New Zealand professional association football goalkeeper, playing for Bayern Munich of the German Frauen-Bundesliga. She has represented New Zealand at international level.
Victoria Lucy Esson is a New Zealand association football goalkeeper, currently playing for Rangers and represents New Zealand at international level.
Grace Joana Ella Jale is an association football midfielder who plays for Perth Glory and the New Zealand women's national football team. She has previously played for Wellington Phoenix and Canberra United.
Max Andrew Mata is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a forward for League of Ireland Premier Division club Sligo Rovers, on loan from EFL League One club Shrewsbury Town as well as the New Zealand national team.
Michaela Leigh Foster is a New Zealand footballer who plays for Wellington Phoenix in the A-League Women and the New Zealand national team.
Emily Louise Foy Clegg is a New Zealand footballer who plays for Racing Louisville in the NWSL.