Aotearoa New Zealand’s women’s national team, commonly known as the Football Ferns, will be hoping to continue a good run of form since their home 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The team will be looking to make it out of Group A with hosts France, defending gold-medallists Canada, and an ever-improving and exciting Colombia.
With a small squad, Head Coach Michael Mayne will have plenty of experience in his side with centurions Ali Riley, Katie Bowen and Rebekah Stott. They’ll be leading a group with notable young talents such as Macey Fraser, Milly Clegg, Kate Taylor, and Mackenzie Barry who will all want to make their mark at their first major international tournament for the Football Ferns.
Recent Form from World Cup onwards
The Football Ferns exceeded expectations on night one of the FIFA Women’s World Cup with a historic 1-0 victory over Norway. However, with both Aotearoa New Zealand and Norway finishing on 4 points and an inferior goal difference, it wasn’t enough to make it to the knockouts.
Since the World Cup, the Ferns have had a 6-4-3 record, which includes a five-match sweep of the OFC qualifying campaign and a 4-0 win over Thailand. The second match against Thailand in the April international break ended 0-0. It was the first time the Ferns have gone undefeated in a Friendly window since 2022. In the June window, the Ferns played two friendlies against a fellow Olympic side, Japan. The Ferns were beaten in both matches with a lone goal scored by forward Milly Clegg.
The side notably also managed a 0-0 result in Colombia at the end of 2023, a team they will face in their second group stage match.
Previous Olympic Appearances
Aotearoa New Zealand have played in every Olympic Games since 2008, when Australia moved to the Asian Football Confederation from the Oceania Football Confederation.
Despite a couple of third-place group finishes, they have only made the quarterfinals once – in 2012, where they faced eventual gold-medallists USA. At the 2020 Toyko Olympics, the Ferns were in the Group of Death with Sweden, USA, and Australia who finished the tournament 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively. The squad were unable to score a point and finished the tournament with 2 goals for and 10 goals against.
Squad
Goalkeepers (2): Victoria Essen, Anna Leat
Defenders (8): Ali Riley (c), Katie Bowen, Rebekah Stott, Mackenzie Barry, CJ Bott, Kate Taylor, Meikayla Moore, Ally Green
Midfielders (4): Malia Steinmetz, Macey Fraser, Grace Jale, Katie Kitching
Forwards (4): Indiah Paige Riley, Jacqui Hand, Milly Clegg, Gabi Rennie
Alternates: Claudia Bunge, Michaela Foster, Annalie Longo, Murphy Sheaff (GK)
Players to Watch
Versatility is a must in an 18-player Olympics squad and New Zealand’s most versatile player is Katie Bowen. A veteran of the Football Ferns at 30 years old, Bowen made her debut in 2011 earning 109 caps since. Starting her career in the midfield, she now plays most frequently at the heart of the defence as a centre-back. Bowen also is a set piece taker for the Ferns, taking 15 free kicks during the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Drafted 16th overall in the 2016 NWSL College Draft to FC Kansas City from the University of North Carolina, Bowen also featured for the Utah Royals, Kansas City Current, and North Carolina Courage, as well as Melbourne City in the A-League Women. Currently, Bowen plays for Inter Milan in the Serie A.
Young player to watch
Macey Fraser has had a rapid rise to the Football Ferns squad. Signing her first professional contract with the Wellington Phoenix in 2023 for three years, the largest in club history. Fraser recorded 3 goals and 5 assists in her first professional season, and was highlighted as one of the best young players in the A-League. Her performances did not go unnoticed, earning herself a transfer to National Women’s Soccer League side Utah Royals FC for a record-breaking fee for a player from the A-League.
Fraser made her Ferns debut against Tonga in February 2024 to help Aotearoa New Zealand qualify for the Olympics and has since earned 5 caps, scoring 2 goals.