The Ford Football Ferns will begin 2022 competing in the SheBelieves Cup in the USA during February’s international window as they step up preparations for next year’s home FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Building on their win over Korea Republic at the end of last year, the 22-ranked kiwis will join the FIFA world ranked number one team USA, along with Iceland (16) and Czech Republic (24) for the round robin tournament, which will be played in California and Texas.

The Ford Football Ferns will kick off the tournament against Iceland at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California at 5pm 17 February/2pm 18 February (PT/NZT). They will then play the USWNT at the same stadium at 12pm 20 February/9am 21 February (PT/NZT). For the final round of games the tournament travels to Texas, and the Ferns close out their tournament against Czech Republic at Toyota Stadium at 5pm 23 February/12pm 24 February (CT/NZT).

Ford Football Ferns Head Coach Jitka Klimková is pleased the Ford Football Ferns’ entry to the prestigious tournament is confirmed, and they will continue building on the team’s progress made in 2021.

“Playing the number one team in the world, the United States, as well as Iceland who are consistently in the top 20, and the Czech Republic, who lately twice drew with the Netherlands, will serve as a great test event for the Ford Football Ferns,” she says.

“We are now just 16 months from co-hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup, so now is the for us to challenge ourselves against good opponents and play in front of good crowds such as in the US.

“After games against Canada, the Olympic winners, and Korea Republic, one of the top three teams in Asia, I think we are ready to face the Americans and two of the top teams in Europe. I believe we will compete on the day, play with courage, learn and discover our work ons.

“The SheBelieves tournament format, with three games against very different opponents is going to simulate the group play at the World Cup. We will focus on quality performances that will lead to earning maximum points and scoring more goals.”

The USWNT needs little introduction, with the Ferns having most recently played them at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Their target for 2022 is to qualify for 2023 and the 2024 Olympic Games, and the SheBelieves Cup serves as important preparation for the Concacaf W Championship in July.

In New Zealand, Iceland and Czech Republic are relatively unknown quantities, with the Ferns having played Iceland only once back at the 2016 Algarve Cup (drawing 1-1 in regular time courtesy of Aotearoa New Zealand’s record goal scorer Amber Hearn, but going down 6-5 on penalties), while they have never played Czech Republic.

Iceland and Czech Republic are in the midst of qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, currently placed second and third in Group C of UEFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying. Iceland will also play in the 2022 UEFA Women’s Euro in England this July.

Match schedule

VS Iceland Kick off 5pm 17 February / 2pm 18 February (PT/NZT) Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California

VS USA Kick off 12pm 20 February / 9am 21 February (PT/NZT), Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California

VS Czech Republic Kick off 5pm 23 February / 12pm 24 February (CT/NZT), Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas

About the SheBelieves Cup

The SheBelieves Cup sees the teams play in three doubleheader events. The tournament winner will be determined by total points, with the first tiebreaker being overall goal difference, followed by most total goals scored, then head-to-head result and lastly, Fair Play ranking if necessary.

The six-game invitational tournament was first played in 2016, with USA winning the inaugural edition. France took top honours in 2017, England finished first in 2019, and the USA have won the 2018, 2020 and 2021 editions of the tournament.

Article added: Wednesday 05 January 2022